The Hidden Dangers of Roblox and Online Gaming Platforms

Kids love Roblox. They love the colours, the creativity, the chance to connect with friends. As parents, we know how tempting it is to let them disappear into the screen for a while. You get a breather, they’re entertained, and it feels harmless.

The problem is that when children are online without supervision, they’re not just playing a game. They’re surrounded by strangers and among those strangers are people who deliberately target kids.

What We See in Schools

Over the past couple of months, we’ve been in and out of schools running anti-bullying and self-defense workshops. Every time, we ask the kids about their devices: who has them, who games, who chats online.

Around half of the kids who own devices say their parents have no idea what they’re doing when they’re online. Many of them told us they play on Roblox or game for hours unsupervised.

And a huge number admitted to using Discord – which means they’re talking to strangers, with zero parental oversight.

Hearing it directly from the children, not the headlines, is what scares me most. Parents think they know what their kids are up to. The reality is often very different.

How Predators Operate

Predators don’t show up waving red flags. They take their time. They know how to appear friendly, build trust, and then push boundaries slowly until a child is trapped.

Here’s what we’ve seen in real cases:

• Offering gifts: Sending Robux or in-game items to build a sense of obligation, then using that to demand photos or videos.
• Shifting platforms: Starting chats in Roblox but pushing kids onto Discord, WhatsApp, or Snapchat where there’s little oversight.
• Encouraging secrecy: Convincing kids to keep the relationship private – “your parents won’t understand,” “this is our secret.”
• Using fear: Once a child has shared something, even one photo, predators use threats to keep control.
• Luring offline: The most dangerous outcome is when a predator convinces a child to meet in person.

Real Cases Parents Need to Hear

These are legal cases, documented in the past year alone:

• A 15-year-old boy in California made a connection on Roblox that moved onto Discord. The grooming escalated to the point that he took his own life. His mother is now suing Roblox and Discord.
• A 10-year-old girl in Michigan was groomed during Roblox chats. What started as friendly conversation escalated into requests for explicit photos and threats when she refused.
• A 13-year-old girl in the UK thought she was chatting with another teenager. In reality, it was an adult man who flew from Austria to the UK to meet her. He was arrested and jailed.
• Children as young as nine were targeted with offers of Robux in exchange for photos. Once they sent something, predators blackmailed them into sending more.
• Several US cases involved predators who persuaded kids to leave Roblox and move onto Discord. From there, it turned into blackmail, explicit images, and in one case, a planned assault that police narrowly prevented.

Every one of these children thought they were safe. Every one of these parents thought their kids were just gaming.

How Parents Can Protect Their Kids

Life is hectic. Screens give kids entertainment and parents a chance to breathe. That’s real life. But when it comes to online gaming, it’s not enough to assume everything is fine.

Here’s what helps:

Keep screens in shared spaces
When kids are gaming in the lounge or dining room, you’re able to notice things they might miss. Maybe a stranger suddenly dominates all their time. Maybe someone offers Robux or gifts. Maybe a chat box pops up asking them to switch apps. Children won’t always see these as dangers, but you can. 

Check devices regularly
Until your child is old enough to buy their own phone or gaming device, it’s your responsibility to look. Checking messages and activity is not invading privacy – it’s protecting them from people who thrive on secrecy. 

Talk about grooming openly
Explain what it looks like: strangers who are too friendly, gifts with strings attached, anyone who asks to keep secrets. Put it in everyday language your child can understand. 

Watch for changes in behaviour
If your child becomes anxious, withdrawn, or defensive about their devices, take note. It could be ordinary stress – or it could be something far more serious.

A Heart-to-Heart

You would never leave your child in a room full of unknown adults and walk away. Yet unsupervised online gaming can be exactly that. The danger isn’t Roblox itself – it’s the people who use it to reach kids.

Our children deserve to play, build, and connect online. They also deserve our protection. By keeping gaming in shared spaces, checking devices, and having open conversations, we make their online world safer without taking away their freedom.

Conversation Starters for Parents

Sometimes the hardest part is simply knowing how to begin. Here are a few simple questions you can use to start a conversation with your kids about their online world:

1. “Who do you like playing with most on Roblox? Do you know them in real life?”
2. “Has anyone you play with ever asked you to keep a secret?”
3. “Has anyone given you Robux or gifts? What did they say when they gave it to you?”
4. “Does anyone you chat with online want to talk to you on another app like Discord or WhatsApp?”
5. “If you ever feel uncomfortable or unsure about something online, how would you like me to help you?”

These aren’t interrogations. They’re invitations to talk. The more you open the door, the more likely your child is to step through it when something doesn’t feel right.