Roblox Child Exploitation Lawsuit Overview

Roblox is an online gaming platform where users can create, share, and play games made by others. The mix of creativity, social interaction, and in-game purchases has made Roblox one of the most popular apps for children, with tens of millions of daily active users worldwide.

However, lawsuits argue that Roblox’s business model and design choices placed children at risk of exploitation, sextortion and abuse. Rather than prioritizing safety, the company allegedly cut costs on moderation, ignored warnings about predatory activity, and allowed harmful content to flourish.

These problems form the basis of Roblox lawsuits now seeking justice for children who were groomed or abused.  Key allegations raised in Roblox exploitation lawsuits include:

• No meaningful age or identity verification for users
• Adults posing as minors to “friend” and message children
• Exploitation of chat, private servers, and Roblox’s new voice call feature
• Robux used by predators to bribe or extort children for images
• Failure to remove sexually explicit “condo games” and reuploaded content

Who Can File A Roblox Lawsuit?

The Roblox sexual exploitation lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk are pursuing claims nationwide for families of children who were harmed after being first contacted through Roblox. Even if communication later moved to other platforms like Discord, Snapchat, or text, families may still qualify if the initial grooming or exploitation began on Roblox.

Children may qualify if they were 17 or younger when the abuse began and suffered one or more of the following harms:

• In-Person Exploitation: Attempts to lure or meet a child offline, sexual assault, inappropriate touching, or trafficking
• Sextortion: Threats to release photos unless the child complied with demands, or bribery with Robux and in-game items
• Grooming and Image Exchange: Coercion to send explicit photos or videos, ongoing manipulation through sexual communication
• Severe Psychological Outcomes: PTSD, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, or death by suicide

By documenting these harms and showing their connection to Roblox, families may be able to pursue financial compensation and push for stronger protections for children.

How Children Are Groomed on Roblox and Discord

Children are being groomed and exploited through Roblox, with the first contact beginning inside a game or chat and then shifting to Discord. Once on Discord, predators take further advantage of the lack of safeguards to escalate the abuse in private. Lawsuits argue this predictable pipeline shows how both companies failed to protect young users.

What Is Roblox?

Roblox is one of the most popular online gaming platforms in the world, allowing users to create and play games made by others. Marketed as a safe and creative outlet for children, it has become especially popular with kids under 13. Roblox includes chat features, friend requests, private servers, and its own virtual currency called Robux.

While these features encourage social play, lawsuits claim they have also made Roblox a target for predators, who exploit them to approach and manipulate minors.

What Is Discord?

Discord is a free communication platform originally built for gamers, offering text, voice, and video chat. Unlike Roblox, which has some moderation, Discord allows users to create or join private servers with little oversight.

This makes it an appealing place for predators, who often direct children they meet on Roblox to continue conversations on Discord. Once there, contact becomes harder for parents or Roblox itself to monitor.

Why Do Predators Move Children From Roblox to Discord?

Investigations show predators frequently begin by approaching children on Roblox, then push them to Discord where they can groom them more freely. The shift off-platform removes Roblox’s limited filters and parental visibility, giving predators direct access through private chats, images, and voice calls.

Lawsuits allege Roblox knew this migration pattern was happening, yet failed to adopt safeguards that would have blocked or flagged adults from initiating these contacts.

Roblox Grooming Often Involves:

• Adults posing as minors by using fake birthdays to access child accounts
• Friend requests and chat used to build trust and credibility
• Shifting conversations off-platform to avoid Roblox’s limited moderation
• Sextortion through threats or bribery with Robux and in-game items
• Escalation to in-person contact, including abductions and assaults documented in criminal cases

This cycle, repeated across numerous complaints, highlights why lawsuits argue Roblox’s lack of safeguards made exploitation foreseeable and preventable.

Harms Linked to Roblox Child Exploitation

The injuries described in lawsuits and police reports are not just momentary. Children suffer lasting harm, often requiring medical and psychological intervention.

Roblox Psychological Injuries

• Severe anxiety, depression, and panic attacks
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance)
• Suicidal thoughts and self-harm
• Social withdrawal and academic decline

Roblox Physical and Sexual Assault Injuries

• Sexual assault or coercion into physical contact
• Abduction or trafficking for in-person exploitation
• Sexually transmitted infections

These harms often disrupt entire families, leaving long-term consequences for health, education, and development.

Real-World Reports of Roblox Grooming and Exploitation

Child Playing Roblox Groomed and Kidnapped in California

Police in Kern County say a 10-year-old girl went missing overnight and was later found more than four hours from home with 27-year-old Matthew Macatuno Naval. Investigators determined the two had been communicating first on Roblox, then on Discord, before Naval drove the girl from Taft to Elk Grove. Deputies arrested him at a strip mall and charged him with kidnapping and unlawful sexual conduct.

Lawsuits claim this case illustrates the predictable grooming pipeline: initial contact inside Roblox, escalation to Discord, and eventual in-person abduction. Families argue Roblox knew predators were using its features to target minors, yet failed to put effective protections in place.

11 Year Old Girl Lured By Roblox Predator

Police in Wayne, New Jersey, reported that an 11-year-old girl was lured away from her home after meeting 27-year-old Darius Matylewich while playing Roblox online. Investigators say Matylewich gained her trust through the platform, then persuaded her to leave with him. He transported the child more than 130 miles to his home in Bear, Delaware, where authorities later found her safe and arrested him.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, forensic searches of Matylewich’s devices uncovered coercive messages, child pornography, and hidden applications he used to record and store images of the abuse. Prosecutors also revealed he had stalked the child near her home before the abduction. In July 2025, Matylewich was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for coercion and enticement of a minor .

Teen Groomed and Transported by Uber

In a press release, federal prosecutors say 23-year-old Arnold Castillo groomed a 15-year-old girl through multiple platforms, including Roblox, Instagram, and Discord. Using the alias “Jacob Shedletsky,” he promised her gifts and opportunities in the gaming industry.

Castillo then arranged for an Uber to drive the victim nearly 700 miles from Indiana to New Jersey, where he sexually abused her until FBI agents located her eight days later. He pled guilty to federal charges of transporting a minor and coercion, receiving a 15-year prison sentence.

The DOJ noted that the grooming began on gaming platforms like Roblox, showing how predators exploit these spaces as gateways to exploitation.

Nine-Year-Old Coerced Into Sending Explicit Images

In a U.S. Department of Justice press release issued in March 2025, federal prosecutors allege 31-year-old David Ibarra posed as a 13-year-old and contacted a 9-year-old girl online, including through Roblox. Investigators say he made 17 small payments totaling about $191 in exchange for explicit photos.

The girl’s mother discovered the communications and notified law enforcement, who uncovered evidence on Ibarra’s phone and iCloud accounts. Prosecutors described this as a textbook grooming scheme, involving false age, off-platform escalation, incremental requests, and financial coercion. His use of Roblox as a communication channel highlights the risks when predators gain access to very young users.

Roblox Knew of the Sexual Predator Problem for Years

Child safety advocates, congressional leaders, and legal authorities have flagged Roblox’s vulnerabilities for years. As early as 2022–2023, groups like the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) repeatedly named Roblox in their Dirty Dozen annual lists of mainstream companies facilitating sexual exploitation, warning that predators were using Roblox as a “first point of contact.”

Investigations and filings show Roblox actively resisted reforms. In Louisiana, the state’s Attorney General filed a claim against Roblox in August 2025, alleging the company “knowingly and intentionally” failed to implement even basic safety controls while enabling the distribution of child sexual abuse material and child exploitation across its games.

The filing cites examples such as simulated gang rape games, a group with more than 3,300 members openly trading child porn, and the use of voice-altering software to conceal predators’ identities.

Rather than respond with sweeping protections, Roblox is reported to have spent millions lobbying state legislatures to block or delay laws aimed at holding platforms accountable for sexual exploitation. In one Louisiana session, a Roblox executive reportedly traveled to oppose a “duty of care” bill designed to require stronger child safety rules.

Key examples of Roblox’s long-standing knowledge of sexual predator issues include:

• Repeated public criticism over under-moderation and sexual experiences accessible to minors
• Inclusion on watchdog lists targeting platforms for facilitating exploitation
• Active lobbying against state laws that would mandate child protection reforms
• State AG lawsuits alleging Roblox’s failure was not accidental, but a business choice

Together, these reports and allegations reinforce the core claim in Roblox lawsuits: the company knew, or should have known, that predators were exploiting its platform, yet it chose to prioritize growth and profit instead of implementing meaningful safety protections.

How Roblox Could Have Prevented Child Sexual Exploitation

Lawsuits claim that Roblox knew, or should have known, its platform was being exploited by predators, and that these dangers could have been prevented with stronger protections. Instead of investing in safeguards, the company allegedly chose profits and user growth over child safety, allowing abuse to occur in predictable and preventable ways.

Lawyers argue that Roblox could have reduced these risks by implementing basic, industry-recognized safety measures such as:

Examples of safeguards Roblox could have used include:

• Age and identity verification to stop adults from posing as children
• Parental consent and monitoring tools to give families control over minors’ interactions
• Limits on adult–child communication to block strangers from friending or messaging kids
• Stronger moderation systems to detect and remove explicit “condo games” and repeat offenders
• Oversight of Robux transactions to prevent predators from using currency as bribes or threats

By failing to adopt these measures, Roblox allegedly created conditions that made grooming, sextortion, and child exploitation foreseeable.

What Evidence Is Needed for a Roblox Lawsuit?

To successfully pursue a Roblox lawsuit, families must be able to show that a child suffered real, documented harm after being contacted or exploited through the platform.

Lawsuits claim Roblox knew or should have known that predators were using its chat features, private servers, and Robux system to groom children, yet failed to act. Proving that abuse occurred, and linking it to Roblox as the point of contact, is critical in these cases.

Key Evidence That Can Strengthen a Roblox Lawsuit Includes:

• Screenshots of Roblox chats, usernames, and friend requests showing how contact was made
• Records of Robux transactions if predators offered or demanded currency in exchange for images or communication
• Screenshots or account histories documenting explicit “condo games” or inappropriate interactions on the platform
• Medical or therapy records showing treatment for PTSD, depression, anxiety, or trauma linked to the abuse
• Law enforcement reports filed with local police or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)
• Parental accounts and witness statements describing behavioral changes, withdrawal, or academic decline after Roblox contact

Families should preserve as much evidence as possible before deleting accounts or devices. A qualified Roblox lawyer can review and organize this documentation to support a legal claim.

Should I File a Police Report If My Child Was Exploited on Roblox?

Yes. If your child was groomed, sextorted, or exploited after using Roblox, families are encouraged to file a police report immediately. A law enforcement investigation can help protect your child, stop ongoing abuse, and preserve evidence that may also support a civil lawsuit.

Who Should I File a Report With?

• Local Police Department: Start with your local police or sheriff’s office, which can take an initial report and begin an investigation.
• Federal Agencies: Cases involving online child exploitation can also be reported to the FBI or through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline. These agencies have specialized units for internet crimes against children.
• Roblox Corporation: Families should also report the predator’s username, chat history, and activity to Roblox directly through its abuse reporting system, although lawsuits claim the company has failed to respond adequately in many cases.

Can I Sue the Predator Directly?

Yes, in addition to a lawsuit against Roblox, families may pursue a claim against the individual predator who harmed the child. However, predators are often not in a financial position to provide meaningful compensation. That is why many lawsuits focus on Roblox itself , arguing the company’s failures allowed predators to reach children in the first place.

By filing both a police report and pursuing legal action, families can maximize accountability, ensuring the predator faces criminal punishment, and Roblox faces civil liability for enabling the abuse.

What Compensation Can Families Recover in a Roblox Lawsuit?

Roblox lawsuits seek to hold the company accountable for the serious and long-lasting harm suffered by children and their families. These claims recognize not only immediate medical needs but also the emotional, educational, and developmental damage caused by grooming, sextortion, or abuse.

Compensation may include:

• Costs of medical care, counseling, and trauma treatment
• Emotional pain and suffering caused by exploitation
• Educational losses, including school absences, tutoring, or IEP costs
• Wrongful death damages in cases involving suicide or fatal harm
• Out-of-pocket expenses tied to safety measures, relocation, or monitoring technology
• Punitive damages designed to punish Roblox and deter similar failures in the future

By pursuing compensation, families can help secure the resources children need to heal while also pressuring Roblox to finally prioritize child safety.

Are There Any Costs to Hire a Roblox Lawyer?

No. There are never any out-of-pocket costs to hire our law firm or for our attorneys to review whether your family has a case. Roblox child sexual exploitation lawsuits are being evaluated nationwide, and all cases are handled on a contingency fee basis.

This means that individuals who have suffered psychological or physical harm caused by Roblox can access the experience and resources of Saiontz & Kirk, regardless of their financial situation.

Through the use of contingency attorney fees, individuals have access to the experience and resources of our national law firm for their potential Roblox lawsuit, regardless of their individual financial resources.