Roblox Reported 65,381 Suspected Child Exploitation Incidents in 2025
In 2025, Roblox submitted 65,381 reports of suspected child sexual exploitation to the US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). That represents an increase of approximately 167% from the 24,522 reports submitted in 2024. However, an investigation by the United States Senate has exposed something potentially more disturbing than the volume of reports. Serious deficiencies were identified in how the company reported suspected exploitation, including cases where investigators could not determine which child was the victim.
I find these revelations particularly concerning. Roblox is a platform where children play games, develop friendships, communicate and spend considerable amounts of time. Parents may see their children sitting safely at home, unaware that the social environments they enter can also be accessed or exploited by individuals seeking to harm them.
The important question is no longer simply whether Roblox has parental controls or moderation systems. We need to examine how offenders are reaching children, what happens when those interactions develop into grooming or coercion, and whether the systems designed to identify abuse are sufficiently effective.
NCMEC Identified Serious Failures in Victim Identification
One particularly concerning finding involved Roblox reports containing conversations between several children. According to NCMEC’s findings on page 9, Roblox frequently failed to identify which child was experiencing exploitation.
Consequently, investigators sometimes received information about multiple children without knowing who needed protection. This created unnecessary difficulties for agencies trying to identify victims, assess risks and investigate suspected offenders.
From my experience in criminal investigation, accurate information is essential. Investigators need to establish who faces danger, identify those responsible and secure relevant evidence. When reports lack basic details, officers may spend valuable time establishing facts that the reporting company should have supplied.
NCMEC raised these concerns directly with Roblox during 2025. Although the company acknowledged the problem, NCMEC initially reported that Roblox had not adequately resolved it.
Organised Exploitation Groups Are Recruiting Children Online
Another disturbing finding concerned sadistic online exploitation, commonly known as SOE. This involves offenders who use threats, humiliation and psychological manipulation to control children. Some offenders pressure victims into self-harm, sexual exploitation or other harmful behaviour.
The NCMEC investigation identified Roblox as a significant environment where suspects meet and recruit children for this form of abuse.
However, NCMEC also identified major gaps in Roblox’s reporting of these incidents. During 2025, Roblox submitted just 32 reports specifically flagged as sadistic online exploitation. In comparison, members of the public submitted 78 reports concerning this type of exploitation on Roblox.
These figures measure different reporting sources and may include overlapping incidents. Nevertheless, NCMEC considered the difference significant enough to raise concerns with Roblox.
The Threat From the 764 Network and The Com
Groups associated with the 764 Network illustrate how organised online abuse can develop. Offenders may target children through gaming communities, social platforms or private communication services. Subsequently, they can use threats and coercion to maintain control.
These networks differ from the traditional image of an individual online predator. Some participants seek status within abusive communities by demonstrating power over victims. Consequently, understanding their psychological methods is essential to recognising the threat.
We previously examined this wider ecosystem in our CODA investigation, The Com: How Children Are Groomed Into Abuse, Violence and Exploitation. That article explores how loneliness, belonging, fear and group pressure can draw young people into dangerous online communities.
Parents must also recognise that abuse may not remain on the platform where contact began. A child might first encounter an offender through gaming before communicating elsewhere.
How Grooming Can Develop Through Roblox
Roblox allows children to play together, communicate and create shared experiences. These features can encourage positive friendships and cooperation. However, offenders can also exploit these interactions to establish contact with children.
From a cyberpsychology perspective, familiarity plays an important role in developing trust. Children may feel close to someone they regularly play with, even without knowing their real identity. Over time, repeated interactions can make that relationship feel genuine and safe.
An offender might initially offer help, encouragement or virtual rewards. They may also pretend to share the child’s interests or age. Although these actions are not automatically suspicious, offenders can use them to develop influence.
Eventually, the offender may introduce secrecy, personal questions or requests to communicate privately. At this stage, an apparently innocent gaming friendship can become increasingly dangerous.
Why Children May Trust Someone They Have Never Met
Traditional online safety advice often tells children not to speak to strangers. However, this message overlooks how online relationships develop.
A child who plays with someone every evening may no longer consider that person a stranger. They may see them as a friend who understands their interests and problems. Therefore, warnings based solely on stranger danger may fail to address the actual risk.
Instead, children need to understand how manipulation works. They should recognise secrecy, emotional pressure and inappropriate requests, even when these come from someone they trust.
Why Offenders Move Conversations to Other Platforms
Grooming may begin on Roblox but continue through Discord, Snapchat, WhatsApp or other messaging services. This can create additional risks because communication moves beyond the original gaming environment.
Our recent CODA article, Online Grooming on Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram, examines evidence of how offenders approach children through popular social platforms. It also explains why parents must consider the wider communication environment rather than concentrating on one application. Roblox provides parental controls and communication restrictions. Parents can review these through the official Roblox parental controls guidance.
However, no platform can guarantee that its systems will identify every harmful interaction. Furthermore, some gaming experiences include communication features that operate differently from standard Roblox chat. Moving conversations elsewhere does not automatically indicate grooming. Nevertheless, parents should pay attention when online friends request secrecy or discourage parental involvement.
Children should understand that genuine friends do not demand intimate images, personal information, or proof of loyalty.
Understanding Psychological Manipulation and Control
Offenders often exploit emotional vulnerability rather than relying on technical sophistication. They may identify children experiencing loneliness, bullying or social isolation. Subsequently, they offer attention, reassurance and friendship. As trust develops, an offender may introduce increasingly inappropriate demands. They might also use embarrassment, threats or emotional pressure to discourage a child from seeking help.
For some victims, the relationship becomes psychologically complicated. They may fear the offender while also feeling emotionally attached to them. Consequently, children sometimes continue communicating even after recognising that something is wrong. Parents should never interpret this behaviour as consent or willingness to participate. Instead, they must understand how manipulation, shame and fear can influence a child’s decisions.
How Personal Information Can Increase Vulnerability
Offenders may also exploit information that children share publicly. Details about friendships, schools, routines or personal difficulties can help someone develop a convincing online identity or approach.
Our CODA guide on Protecting Personal Information Online explains how criminals exploit information and why privacy matters. Parents can also explore our Digital Footprint guide to understand how online activity can expose personal details. However, children must never feel responsible when someone deliberately exploits their trust. The offender remains responsible for the manipulation and abuse.
What Has Roblox Done to Improve Child Safety?
Roblox has introduced parental controls, age checks, communication restrictions and additional moderation measures. The company has also worked with NCMEC to improve the quality of its reports. In August 2026, the US Senate Judiciary Committee published an update confirming improvements across several technology companies.
NCMEC reported that Roblox had strengthened its victim identification procedures and trained staff involved in reporting. The company also improved the information accompanying CyberTipline submissions and its handling of sadistic online exploitation.
These changes represent positive developments. However, improved reporting does not necessarily mean platforms have eliminated the underlying risks. Therefore, regulators should continue examining whether companies detect harmful interactions early, protect vulnerable children and support effective investigations.
Are Roblox’s Parental Controls Sufficient?
Roblox allows parents to manage various aspects of their child’s account. Depending on the account and age, these include content maturity, communication, screen time and spending.
For a practical walkthrough, visit our updated CODA Roblox Safety Settings and Parental Controls Guide. It explains how to link a parent account, restrict communication, manage content and review account security. However, parental controls cannot replace conversations about online relationships. A child might follow every gaming rule yet still encounter someone who manipulates their emotions or exploits their trust.
I therefore recommend that parents understand both the technology and the behaviour it enables. Ask who your child plays with, how those friendships developed and whether conversations continue elsewhere. Families can also explore CODA’s Popular Games Safety Settings directory. This covers safety guidance for other games children regularly play.
What Parents Should Do to Reduce the Risks
Parents should review their child’s Roblox account regularly and ensure the age information is accurate. They should also examine communication settings, friend connections and the experiences their child can access. For younger children, limiting unnecessary communication can provide additional protection. However, parents should make decisions based on their child’s age, maturity and individual circumstances.
Just as importantly, discuss online friendships without making children feel interrogated. Ask whether anyone has offered gifts, requested secrecy or encouraged private conversations elsewhere. Explain that manipulation does not always involve an obvious threat. Sometimes, it begins with friendship, compliments or special attention.
Finally, reassure children that they can seek help without automatically losing access to their devices. Fear of punishment may prevent them from reporting a worrying interaction. For families seeking wider advice, the CODA Resources for Parents section brings together guidance covering gaming, messaging, social media and device safety.
What to Do if Your Child Experiences Online Exploitation?
If your child reveals an uncomfortable or abusive online interaction, remain calm and listen carefully. Avoid criticism, blame or repeated questioning. Instead, reassure them that they have done the right thing by speaking to you.
Preserve usernames, account details and relevant messages where safe and lawful. However, do not download or distribute child sexual abuse material. Do not confront the suspected offender, as this could interfere with an investigation.
Report Suspected Grooming or Sexual Exploitation
In Ireland, you can report suspected online grooming or sexual exploitation to An Garda Síochána. Contact your local Garda station if you believe someone has targeted your child. If a child faces immediate danger, call 999 or 112.
You can also report suspected illegal online content through Hotline.ie. This service assesses reports involving child sexual abuse material and other categories of potentially illegal content.
Child Protection and Emotional Support
If you believe a child has suffered abuse or faces an ongoing risk, contact Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. You do not need to prove abuse before raising a genuine child protection concern. Tusla can assess the information and determine what action may be necessary.
Children who feel frightened or embarrassed can also contact Childline Ireland. The service offers free support through its online services and by telephone on 1800 66 66 66. Seeking professional help early can reduce further harm and support a child’s recovery.
Why This Investigation Matters Beyond Roblox
The Roblox findings highlight a broader weakness in how society approaches online child protection. Technology companies frequently promote their safety features, moderation systems and reporting statistics.
Although these measures matter, they do not tell us whether children consistently receive effective protection. We must also examine reporting quality, victim identification and the effectiveness of investigations. Furthermore, offenders do not restrict themselves to individual platforms. They can move between games, messaging applications and online communities. As a result, children encounter risks across a connected digital environment.
In Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán plays an important role in regulating online services under the Digital Services Act and national online safety legislation. However, regulation alone cannot replace education, parental involvement or effective criminal investigations.
Why Schools and Parents Need Better Education
Parents and schools need education that explains why online exploitation occurs, not simply where particular safety settings appear. Children must understand how trust develops, how manipulation works and how offenders exploit their vulnerabilities.
This behavioural approach is central to our Children of the Digital Age school presentations. We examine online risks through cyberpsychology, digital forensics and investigative experience, helping children recognise dangers before they escalate.
We must also ensure that children feel confident reporting concerning experiences. Effective online safety education should strengthen trust between young people, parents and teachers rather than encouraging secrecy or fear.
Children Need Protection That Goes Beyond Safety Settings
The 65,381 Roblox reports deserve serious public attention. However, NCMEC’s findings about victim identification and organised exploitation are equally important. As an online safety educator, I believe we must focus more closely on the psychology of online relationships. Children need to recognise manipulation, understand how trust develops and know when to seek help.
Parents also need practical guidance that goes beyond instructions for adjusting settings. They should understand how offenders exploit communication, emotional vulnerability and social connections. Ultimately, protecting children requires cooperation between families, schools, technology companies, regulators and law enforcement.
Children should be able to enjoy online gaming without facing exploitation or coercion. Ensuring that protection remains a shared responsibility, and technology companies must play their part.
References
- NCMEC CyberTipline investigation, pages 9 and 10
- US Senate investigation into child sexual exploitation on Roblox
- US Senate update on improvements to child exploitation reporting
CODA Resources
- Roblox Safety Settings and Parental Controls Guide
- The Com: How Children Are Groomed Into Abuse
- Online Grooming on Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram
- Popular Games Safety Settings
- Protecting Personal Information Online
Reporting and Support
About Children of the Digital Age
Children of the Digital Age provides online safety education and training for schools, parents and organisations. Our guides support practical conversations about online behaviour and the choices people make. However, education and app settings do not replace safeguarding or professional support.
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