US Watchdog FTC Urged to Probe Roblox over Child Safety and Spending Claims
The coalition says Roblox obscures virtual-currency costs and chat risks, while parents reported one child spent more than $7,000 in two months.
- On Wednesday, Fairplay and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Roblox for alleged "unfair and deceptive" marketing and design practices targeting children.
- The groups allege Roblox uses "engagement-maximizing design features" to pressure children into spending while making "deceptive claims" about platform safety, according to the letter submitted to regulators.
- Researchers reported encountering sexual references and offensive language within minutes in certain games, while chat features may expose children to inappropriate content despite existing parental controls and AI-powered moderation tools.
- Roblox "strongly disputes" the claims, stating its platform is "built for fun and connection, not short-term engagement," and notes only 1.4% of its 132 million daily active users were payers in Q1 2026.
- The FTC has not signaled whether it will launch a formal investigation, a process historically taking 12 to 36 months, while Roblox currently defends more than 140 federal lawsuits over child safety allegations.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Children’s advocacy groups ask FTC to investigate Roblox
Two child safety advocacy groups are urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the gaming platform Roblox, alleging the company is committing “unfair and deceptive” acts, risking kids’ safety and well-being. In a complaint filed Wednesday with the FTC, Fairplay and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) and a host of other advocacy…
Advocacy Groups Seek FTC Probe Into Roblox for Kid Spending
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation and Fairplay, two advocacy groups focused on child safety, are asking the US Federal Trade Commission to investigate Roblox Corp.’s game mechanics, which they claim coerce kids into spending unreasonable amounts of money on the platform.
US Groups Urge Investigation Into Child Safety on Roblox, Arguing FTA Violations
Roblox is constantly at the center of conversations when child safety is involved. While created for kids, it’s often deemed unsafe and unfit for children. And now, US groups are urging investigations into child safety on Roblox. Submitted by child safety nonprofit Fairplay and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, or NCOSE, a request for investigation was made, arguing that Roblox’s design features and advertising violate portions of the …
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
