At Phillips Law Group, we are committed to holding companies accountable for failing to protect families and children from harm. As just one example of companies failing to do so in the digital age, recent lawsuits against Roblox – a popular online gaming platform – highlight the growing concerns over child safety in online spaces. Parents and guardians trust platforms like Roblox to provide a safe environment for their children, but when companies neglect their duty to protect young users, the consequences can be devastating. In these cases, their parents or guardians may need to consider filing a Roblox child safety lawsuit.
What is Roblox?
Roblox is described on the App Store as “the ultimate virtual universe that lets you create, share experiences with friends, and be anything you can imagine.”
“Join millions of people and discover an infinite variety of immersive experiences created by a global community!” the Store advertises. However, some Roblox child safety lawsuits question whether this “global community” is properly monitored by the Roblox Corporation to prevent harm from coming to the many children who use the platform.
The Parents magazine website notes that Roblox attracts over 80 million users every day, “and some three-fifths of those players are children under age 13.”
“What’s unique about Roblox is that users can design and upload their own games on a proprietary program called Roblox Studio to share and play with users all over the world,” the outlet reports. It also warns of addiction potential, exposure to mature game content, and unsafe interactions that parents should watch out for when it comes to their kids using the platform.
Roblox and Child Safety
In one case involving unsafe interactions and ultimately leading to a Roblox child safety lawsuit, a New Jersey family filed a lawsuit against Roblox and Discord after their child was allegedly groomed and sexually abused by an adult predator on the platforms.
According to the lawsuit and PhillyVoice.com, the predator used Roblox to connect with the child before moving the conversation to Discord, where the abuse occurred. Philly Voice reported that a 27-year-old “convinced the boy to send him nude photos and videos on Discord in exchange for $10 electronic gift cards that could be used to buy Robux, the game’s digital currency,” with the boy in question being a 13-year-old minor.
NJ.com reports that the accused individual knew the boy’s age and allegedly tried to arrange a “sexual encounter” with the victim and threatened the teen’s family when the minor didn’t appear. Once the family became aware that the accused knew their New Jersey address, “they fled to California,” the outlet revealed.
Accusations Against Roblox
The family claims that both platforms failed to implement adequate safety measures to prevent such exploitation, despite knowing the risks posed to minors. In fact, their child may not have been the only minor exploited by the same person charged in their case – after his arrest, prosecutors in New Jersey found evidence that the accused individual had been in contact with as many as 25 other children, the lawsuit claims.
This case underscores the urgent need for stronger protections and accountability in the tech industry. If Roblox and other companies like it fail to protect children from sexual exploitation on their platforms, they should be held accountable.
Roblox has faced criticism for its lax moderation and inadequate parental controls when it comes to its multitude of young users. Predators often exploit these weaknesses to target vulnerable children, leading to emotional trauma and long-term psychological harm.
As a personal injury law firm, we are dedicated to helping families seek justice and compensation for the harm caused by negligent companies, and that includes companies operating in the fast-changing digital space.
Working with Phillips Law Group
If your child has been victimized on Roblox or another online platform, you may have grounds for a lawsuit. Our experienced attorneys are here to guide you through the legal process, ensuring your family’s rights are protected.
We understand the sensitive nature of these cases and provide compassionate, confidential representation to help you achieve the justice your child deserves. Please don’t hesitate to contact our firm today to schedule a free, no-obligation, confidential consultation and learn how we can help your family hold negligent companies like Roblox accountable. Call 602-222-2222 to learn more now.
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