Child safety groups ask FTC to investigate Roblox over safety concerns and $4.9 bn revenue growth

Context A coalition that includes writer Jonathan Haidt’s Anxious Generation Movement, Fairplay, and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. The groups argue that Roblox’s engagement‑maximising features expose children to sexual content and harmful adults. They note that about 40 % of the platform’s 150 million daily users are under 13 years old. Roblox hosts roughly seven million user‑created games, ranging from simple obstacle courses to social hubs such as Brookhaven, where players can buy virtual homes and vehicles. Game creators collectively earned $1.5 billion in 2023, according to company disclosures. The platform’s primary income comes from sales of Robux, a virtual currency used to purchase in‑game items.

Key Facts The complaint urges the FTC to examine Roblox’s design and safety practices, especially its text and voice‑chat systems. Roblox reported a 36 % increase in revenue to $4.9 billion last year, driven mainly by sales of its virtual currency Robux. Casey Mock, senior policy director of Haidt’s movement, said Roblox owes families a duty to design a safe product that goes beyond its terms of service. A Roblox spokesperson said the company strongly disputes the allegations and emphasized that its platform is built for fun and connection. The spokesperson noted that direct chat is disabled by default for users under nine and that voice chat is limited to age‑verified players aged 13 or older. In the first quarter of 2026, only 1.4 % of Roblox’s users were payers, according to the company.

What It Means If the FTC opens an investigation, it could compel Roblox to strengthen age‑verification, limit monetisation tactics aimed at minors, or adjust its chat functionalities. The platform already employs facial age estimation and a real‑time detection system called Sentinel, but critics contend these tools have not fully prevented adult‑child contact. Recent enforcement actions show the FTC is willing to challenge large tech firms; last month a California jury found Meta and YouTube liable for designing addictive products that harmed young people. In Washington, Republican lawmakers have advanced bills that would impose stricter child‑protection standards on online services. Observers will watch whether the FTC issues a formal request for information, negotiates a settlement, or recommends new rules that could affect how Roblox and similar platforms generate revenue from young users.