Preventing in Roblox is not a game

Roblox is a digital platform, one of the most popular worldwide, that allows users to play, create and share their own worlds and interactive experiences with players from all over the planet.

Although it has filters, some users upload games or messages with violence, offensive language or disguised sexual themes.

The chat also allows anyone to talk to other players, which has led to attempts at harassment, grooming and manipulation.

In fact, Roblox is one of the platforms where sexual cyberbullying against children and adolescents has been most documented.

Experts say cybercriminals look for initial contact, particularly in popular children’s games like Brookhaven, Adopt Me! or Royale High. They start with seemingly innocent conversations: “Hello, do you want to be my friend?” or “I like your avatar.”

Abusers create an account and pretend to be the same age as the victim to build trust.

They communicate with minors frequently in the game chat or in private messages, and offer virtual gifts such as pets, Robux (virtual currency), rare items, in addition to beginning to address personal topics, asking about school, family or feelings.

It is documented that they even pretend to share similar problems to create empathy and tell the victim not to tell anyone about their friendship.

The interaction then moves to other apps with less parental control, such as Discord, Instagram, WhatsApp and Snapchat, where they can send photos, request content or make video calls without supervision.
This stage is where the risk of manipulation and abuse increases.

They may ask for intimate photos, promise gifts in return or use threats and in some cases try to extort or meet in person.

The Citizen Security Council of Mexico City reported in July that cybercriminals captured the largest number of victims of the crime of human trafficking, in the form of child pornography, through social networks and online video games.

In the presentation of its Fifth Annual Report Against Trafficking, it detailed that of the 16,730 reports received between January 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025, 62 percent were from people who suffered child sexual exploitation in virtual environments.

The remaining 38 percent were affected by other forms of crime, such as prostitution, forced labor and labor exploitation.

There is no better way for parents to prevent their minor son or daughter from being victims on Roblox and other platforms than to talk to them about the risks, said Alejandro Martínez, coordinator of technological innovation programs for infrastructure at the Los Altos University Center, of the UdeG.

“We must recognize that Roblox, like most social media platforms, are constantly evolving, trying to correct situations or weaknesses that the platform may have and trying to avoid these types of negative experiences,” he said.

“But the most important thing is education: We have to teach the kids to defend themselves.”

The specialist assured that he has worked with the Jalisco Cyber ​​Police and the personnel that comprise it have a lot of experience, although they are overwhelmed by the number of complaints, as occurs in other cities in the world.

Last Monday, James Uthmeier, Attorney General of Florida, in the United States, reported that they opened an investigation against Roblox.

“Roblox profited financially from our children while exposing them to dangerous harm. They made it easier for them to be sexually abused,” he said.

“Companies like that have become a breeding ground for predators to have access to minors.”

Roblox is an online video game platform that allows users to create and play interactive experiences developed by other players. Now it is in the eye of the hurricane due to risks for its users, such as “grooming” or sexual cyberbullying of minors.

– In Nuevo León, a 9-year-old minor was contacted by a Facebook user who promised her credits for Roblox in exchange for video calls, until her mother discovered the situation. The case was shared on networks to alert other parents and teachers.

– In another State, a girl who made a friend on the platform was convinced to create an avatar without clothes and have sexual contacts with other avatars. They advised him to leave home because of the arguments he was having with his mother.

– Florida opened a criminal investigation on Monday against Roblox, accusing it of profiting from children and failing to protect them from sexual predators seeking access to them.

– The Florida Prosecutor’s Office accuses negligence of not adequately verifying the age of users, in addition to failures in content moderation, which has allowed sexually explicit material to bypass filters and circulate on the platform.

– Roblox has its own virtual currency: Robux. Players use it to purchase clothing, accessories, upgrades, or benefits in games.

– Users can build games with the free Roblox Studio tool.

– Developers can earn real money if their creations are popular (monetization).

– Users can chat, collaborate and attend virtual concerts or events.

– Requires parental supervision not only for the chat function, but also for access to user-created content.

– Establish schedules for the use of electronic devices.

– Check daily the activities and places your child frequents. Establish flexible but firm communication with him.

– Activate parental controls, review games played by children or teenagers, and use age-verified accounts.

– Disable or limit chat to only use with friends you know. Talk to minors about not sharing personal information.

– Only buy Robux within the official app. Teach them not to give out passwords or information off-site.

– The minor spends a lot of time with “a friend” that he does not want to describe.

– You have valuable items that you cannot explain how you obtained.

– Appears nervous or reserved when someone mentions Roblox or checks their chat.

– Changes behavior, sleeps less or isolates.