Roblox looks like a bright playground of imagination: millions of colorful worlds where players can build games, role-play and hang out with friends. With more than 85 million people logging in every day and almost half of them under 13, it has become one of the most popular gaming platforms for kids and teens. But behind the trending avatars and blocky adventures, Roblox is facing lawsuits, bans and serious questions about child safety.
Roblox isn’t a single game, it’s a platform where anyone can create “experiences” and invite others to play. That open creativity is why it exploded in popularity around 2010–2012 and still dominates today. Yet experts warn that the very openness that makes Roblox so exciting can also make it risky. Because anyone can create games and chat with strangers, harmful content and predatory behavior can still occur even with filters and parental control. A 2025 report in The Guardian found that “children using Roblox may still encounter inappropriate material or be approached by adults despite safety measures already in place”
These safety issues haven’t gone unnoticed by student’s either. Many young people say they’re aware of the risk but still see Roblox as a fun and creative space when used carefully.
“I’ve heard about all the safety issues, and I get why people would worry,” said Daniela Castellano, a senior at McIntosh. ” But if you are careful, and only play with people you actually know, Roblox can still be fun.”
Several lawsuits and bans have raised alarm about Roblox’s safety this year. In Louisiana, the attorney general sued Roblox, claiming the company has failed to protect young players from online predators. In California, parents filed a lawsuit after a 10-year-old girl was allegedly lured by someone on the platform offering gifts in exchange for photos. Meanwhile, countries including China, Qatar, Turkey, Oman, Kuwait, Algeria, and Jordan have banned or heavily restricted Roblox, citing safety and regulatory concerns.
“Even though I don’t play Roblox that often anymore, I’ve still heard about everything that’s been happening through TikTok,” junior Aidan Thompson said.
Parents are able to supervise their child accounts by enabling parental controls, they can limit who can chat with their kids, be on their friends list and decide what kind of games their child could play Minimal, Mild, Moderate and Restricted (how Roblox games are rated).
“I honestly just think parents should just check their kids’ accounts if they’re still young, so they don’t end up making dumb decisions,” senior Sophia Vitoria said.
Roblox remains free and creative for millions, but the recent lawsuits and safety concerns show that some platforms need deeper background checks before letting kids on them. But just like any social media platform, being careful, not using real names to make accounts and only adding people that you know, can save many children from being exposed to inappropriate content.
“At the end of the day, Roblox can still be fun, you just have to be smart about it. It’s just like any other social media platform, if you are careful and stick with people you know, it’s way safer,” Castellano said.
