'Pedophile Hellscape': North Carolina mother sues Roblox after predator groomed her 10-year-old daughter into sending explicit photos

A mother is suing Roblox, claiming the company enabled a predator to sexually exploit her 10-year-old daughter on the popular gaming app.

The lawsuit alleges Roblox knowingly created a “pedophile hellscape” despite promoting the app to parents as safe for children. According to the complaint, the predator posed as another child and groomed the girl, convincing her to send explicit images. He allegedly gave her Robux, the game’s virtual currency, in exchange for the pictures and threatened to revoke the gift if she did not comply. The interactions reportedly began on Roblox before shifting to text messaging.

The suit also argues that Roblox’s in-game currency has made children “obsessed” with obtaining Robux, to the point where some tell strangers they will do “anything for Robux.”

In a statement to the New York Post, a Roblox spokesperson said, “We are deeply troubled by any incident that endangers our users, and safety is a top priority.”

“We dedicate substantial resources, including advanced technology and 24/7 human moderation, to help detect and prevent inappropriate content and behavior, including attempts to direct users off platform, where safety standards and moderation may be less stringent than ours,” the company representative said.

The lawsuit argues that the lack of proper age verification and effective parental controls made the abuse possible. Currently, Roblox requires only a username, password, and birthdate to register. The filing also notes that until November 2023, Roblox allowed adults to directly message children of any age.

“Had Defendant disclosed the truth of what was really occurring on its app, Plaintiff’s mother would never have permitted Plaintiff to use this app without her strict supervision,” the complaint argued.

The child is said to now suffer from “significant emotional distress, psychological trauma, and mental anguish,” with the lawsuit describing the injuries as “severe, ongoing, and permanent.”

Launched in 2006, Roblox has grown into one of the world’s most popular gaming platforms. Its 2023 annual report stated the app averages 68.5 million daily active users, with 21 percent under the age of 9, 21 percent between 9 and 12, and 16 percent between 13 and 16.