US groups urge FTC probe into Roblox child safety and spending

US advocacy groups have asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Roblox over concerns that children as young as five face risks from strangers and pressure to spend money on the platform.

Fairplay and the National Centre on Sexual Exploitation filed the complaint on Wednesday. They said the gaming platform uses complex in-game purchases and engagement-maximising design features that exploit children's developmental vulnerabilities.

Roblox rejected the claims. A spokesperson said the platform was built for fun and connection, not short-term engagement. The company pointed to policies that ban gambling and rules that govern paid random items. Most games are free to play and users are not required to buy Robux, the platform's virtual currency, the spokesperson added.

In the first quarter of 2026, only 1.4 percent of Roblox's 132 million daily active users were payers, according to the company.

The complaint focused on the in-game economy. Robux can be bought with real money and used for game passes or avatar upgrades. The groups said the system is too complex for children to understand and that it is nearly impossible to track the real-world cost of virtual items.

One parent reported that a 10-year-old daughter spent more than $7,000 in two months despite attempts to limit purchases.

The filing also alleged that features such as daily reward streaks and displays of other players' virtual possessions encourage children to stay on the platform. Some experiences use loot boxes or chance-based rewards that children may not fully understand, the groups said.

"Parents are doing everything they can to protect their children on Roblox, but it's not a fair fight," said Ashwin Verghese, Fairplay's communications director. "The platform is designed to take advantage of kids' developmental needs and prey on their vulnerabilities."

He said parents deserve to know their children will be safe on Roblox and called on the FTC to ensure that happens.

Drew Benvie, chief executive of Battenhall and founder of the youth safety nonprofit Raise, said age limits for features will only go so far. He said young gamers easily bypass safety features and that greater awareness and legislative changes are needed.

The complaint also raised concerns about text and voice chat. Researchers using under-13 accounts reported encountering sexual references and offensive language within minutes of entering certain games. The filing referenced cases of grooming and exploitation on the site.

Roblox has blocked children from chatting to adults and introduced age-estimation technology to place users in age-appropriate accounts.