How Safe Is Roblox? A Deep Dive Into The Platform's Safety Issues

Parent or not, chances are you've heard of Roblox. It has become a global phenomenon, with over 40 million user-generated games to explore and an endless stream of viral memes and titles. Its widespread impact on gaming culture is also undeniable, especially to the kids who flock to the platform every day.

Given its huge success, it might surprise you to learn that Roblox isn't as safe as it seems. Recent findings, including an in-depth report published on October 8 from Hindenburg Research, an American investment reasearch firm, have revealed some Roblox data that don't quite add up and serious issues you must not ignore. Hindenburg even described it as a "pedophile hellscape for kids."

So parents, consider this your wake-up call about the platform that your child love or might even be obsessed with. What's happening behind the scenes is more unsettling than you think, and we're here to break it down for you.

ALSO READ: Right Under Our Noses: The Covert Dangers of Roblox Most Parents Are Unaware Of

What's Roblox?

Roblox is an online gaming platform worth about $27 billion and based in San Mateo, California. Founded in 2004 by CEO David Baszucki, it has become a cult favorite among young gamers. With over 70 million daily users worldwide, Roblox lets players create, explore, and play games made by other users for free, though some include in-game purchases.

Despite its popularity, Roblox struggles to keep its platform safe for its users. While it has introduced measures like content reviews, parental controls, and chat filters, the large user base and vast amount of content make it simply impossible to control everything. Reports indicate that explicit content and troubling interactions occasionally slip through Roblox's filters.

User Engagement: The Numbers Game

Roblox regularly shares data on its users to convey its reach and popularity. For example, a 2022 quarterly report claimed "over 54.1 million people" engaged with the platform daily. However, critics argue that the way Roblox defines its user metrics can be misleading.

'We found Roblox to be an X-rated pedophile hellscape, replete with users attempting to groom our avatars, groups openly trading child pornography, widely accessible sex games, violent content and extremely abusive speech—all of which is open to young children and all while Roblox has cut content moderation spending to appease Wall Street and boost earnings.' —Hindenburg Research

Roblox's reported number of people often matches its Daily Active Users (DAUs). However, DAUs don't represent unique individuals because they can include multiple accounts from one person, like alternate or bot accounts. This suggests that Roblox may be intentionally confusing people with DAUs, inflating the actual number of users on its platform.

Hindenburg finds that Roblox is allegedly "misleading investors, regulators, and advertisers about the number of people on its platform, inflating the key metric by 25-42%+." Roblox is also accused of inflating engagement hours, another key metric, by an estimated 100%+.

The widespread presence of bots on the platform also skews engagement data. One example is the popular Roblox game "Adopt Me!" which received over 83,000 virtual signatures on a Change.org petition calling for its removal due to excessive bot activity, which users claim "breaks" the game.

Moreover, analysis of user data revealed that while Roblox reported an average of 30.4 million unique daily users, actual time spent in games was often only 22 minutes. In many cases, bots inflate engagement metrics by staying in games for 24 hours or more.

In 2023, Roblox told the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it can't identify users with multiple accounts, a claim contradicted by former employees who say the company internally tracks these users through a process called 'de-alting.'

According to Hindenburg, Roblox maintains two sets of user metrics: one for internal decisions that 'de-alts' multiple accounts, and another used by the finance team to report inflated numbers to investors.

The bottom line is that Roblox has repeatedly been caught misleading users and investors.

How does Roblox's alleged inflation of user and engagement metrics relate to online safety?

By exaggerating the number of active users and engagement hours, Roblox may obscure critical issues about how the platform is actually used and what it requires for proper moderation. Presenting a rosy view of its user activity could give investors, regulators, young gamers, and parents a falsely positive impression of its safety measures.

It also underscores Roblox's greed; the platform prioritizes profitability with no real concern for kids' safety. While it's a business decision, this means less focus and fewer resources for content moderation, user protection, and security upgrades.

Hindenburg's investigation found that despite Roblox's claims of having "best in the world" content moderation, safety was largely outsourced to call centers in Asia. A moderator from the Philippines told Hindenburg that they're only paid $12 a day to review cases of child grooming and bullying, with limited power to permanently ban offenders from the platform.

Ineffective Privacy and Parental Control Settings

Although Roblox offers content filters and parental controls, these settings aren't enabled by default and have significant loopholes.

In testing, Hindenburg found that creating a new account claiming to be over 13 took less than a minute, with no age verification process.

Additionally, an under-9 account's chat was set to "everyone" by default, exposing it to hate speech, violence, and explicit content from fellow users. The account could also bypass parental controls, including changing age settings and removing spending restrictions.

It was only recently that Roblox announced a change ensuring users under 13 years old can't play or discover unrated experiences.

On November 7, Roblox wrote in a post, "By default, users under the age of 13 will not be able to play, search, and discover unrated experiences. This will ensure that parents and users have more clarity into the types of content available on Roblox and will help them make more informed choices about what they want to play."

The platform added, "We will be restricting access to Social Hangouts and Free-form User Creation experiences to users ages 13+."

Is Roblox a "Pedophile Hellscape" for Kids? Uncovering the Dark Side of the Platform

Although gameplay and creativity define the user experience for millions of children, there's a darker side to Roblox's popularity. Over the years, reports have surfaced of child predators exploiting the platform's social features to target young users. In 2018, a particularly disturbing case involved a 29-year-old who groomed hundreds of minors through Roblox and other platforms.

From 2020 to 2024, media outlets and non-profits reported that explicit digital environments, like virtual strip clubs and parties, were operating within Roblox. These revelations sparked outrage, with the National Center on Sexual Exploitation labeling Roblox a “a tool for sexual predators, a threat for childrens' safety."

ALSO READ: Mom Warns Parents Against Roblox: Daughter's Avatar Was 'Gang Raped'

"We found Roblox to be an X-rated pedophile hellscape, replete with users attempting to groom our avatars, groups openly trading child pornography, widely accessible sex games, violent content and extremely abusive speech—all of which is open to young children and all while Roblox has cut content moderation spending to appease Wall Street and boost earnings," wrote Hindenburg Research.

While conducting research on the company’s key investor metrics, the firm, which exposes illegal or unethical business and financial reporting practices, went undercover and explored Roblox's "metaverse."

Hindenburg's Tests Exposes Disturbing Content on Roblox

Hindenburg Research tested Roblox's "best in the world" content moderation by searching for the term 'adult' and uncovered a group called "Adult Studios" with over 3,300 members as of May 2024. The Group Wall showed users openly soliciting sexual favors and explicit content.

Hindenburg also discovered other groups labeled 'Content Deleted', followed by a seven-digit number, which means that Roblox moderators had taken action against content violations but failed to ban the groups entirely.

Within these groups, active child exploitation marketplaces thrived, with users luring children by offering Robux, the platform's in-game currency. This test reveals significant flaws in Roblox's content moderation, leaving young users vulnerable to exploitation.

Further, the investigation consistently found instances where users violated Roblox's Community Standards, which explicitly prohibit "content that depicts sexual activity." This further underscores a significant gap between Roblox's claims of robust moderation and the reality of unchecked, harmful content circulating on its platform.

Disturbing Violent Games on Roblox Further Expose Major Flaws in Platform's Safety Measures

Hindenburg's investigation has also revealed shocking examples of violent games on Roblox that contradict the platform's mission "to connect a billion users with optimism and civility." One of the most alarming finds was the game "Beat Up Homeless Outside 7/11 Simulator," created on November 21, 2023. Despite promoting harmful behavior, the game amassed 1 million visits and 15,000 favorites before being put under review by Roblox.

The game's description provocatively asks, "A homeless man has set out his tent outside 7/11. What will YOU do?" Upon release, it had no age restrictions, allowing users as young as 13 to access it.

Even more disturbing, Hindenburg uncovered another game titled "Beat Up the Pregnant," where players compete to assault pregnant women in a Walmart parking lot. These violent games, easily accessible to Roblox's impressionable young audience, underscore the platform's failure to adequately screen harmful content, exposing children to disturbing and inappropriate material.

While we've highlighted the significant dangers and flaws within Roblox, the ultimate responsibility falls on you, as a parent, to make informed decisions.

How to Keep Your Child Safe on Roblox

To keep Roblox safe for kids, start by using parental controls. Disable chat features if you're not directly supervising gameplay, and enable Account Restrictions to prevent strangers from messaging and finding your child's account.

To set up controls:

1. Log in to the account and go to Settings.
2. Click Privacy to adjust contact settings.
3. For kids 12 or younger, set the contact options to Friends or No one.
4. Set a PIN for added security.

It’s natural to worry about Roblox’s parental controls, which, as discussed, have their flaws. Along with using the available settings, avoid letting your child play alone behind closed doors. Most importantly, remind them never to chat with strangers or share personal details.

Parents, it’s crucial to understand the risks of the platform, take proactive steps to protect your child, and maintain ongoing conversations about online safety. While you may feel comfortable letting your child play for now, you also have the right to restrict access entirely if you believe it's in their best interest.

The key is for you to stay informed, monitor your child's activity, and make the choice that best aligns with your values and concerns.

Click here to learn how to set healthy limits on your kids' gadget use and ensure a balanced, safe digital experience.