US Groups Demand FTC Probe into Roblox's Kid Safety and Spending Woes

Roblox is one of the most popular online gaming platforms in the world, especially among children. Recently, some advocacy groups in the United States have raised concerns about how safe Roblox is for young users. They have asked the Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, to investigate Roblox for what they call 'unfair and deceptive' practices. These groups are worried that children as young as five can be contacted by strangers and are being encouraged to spend money on the platform.

The main issues raised in the complaint are about in-game purchases, chat features, and the way Roblox is designed to keep children playing for longer. Roblox uses a virtual currency called Robux, which players can buy with real money. This currency is then used to buy game passes, upgrades, and outfits for their avatars. The advocacy groups say that the system is too complicated for children to understand, making it almost impossible for them to know how much real money they are spending. In one case, a parent reported that their ten-year-old daughter spent more than $7,000 in just two months, even though the parent tried to limit her purchases.

The complaint also says that Roblox uses 'engagement-maximising' features to keep children playing. These include daily rewards for logging in, and systems that show off what other players have, which can make kids want to play more and buy more items. Some games use loot boxes or chance-based rewards, which are similar to gambling. The groups believe that these features take advantage of children's lack of impulse control and their desire to fit in with friends.

Roblox has responded to these claims by saying that the platform is designed for fun and connection, not just to keep people playing. The company says it has clear rules against gambling and that most games are free to play. According to Roblox, only 1. 4 percent of its 132 million daily users actually spend money on the platform. Roblox has also introduced new safety features, like age estimation technology, to help protect younger users.

However, some parents and experts are still worried. They say that even with age checks, children can find ways to get around the rules. Drew Benvie, who runs a youth safety nonprofit, says that age limits are not enough to keep children safe. He believes that parents and children need to be more aware of the risks, and that there should be stronger laws to protect kids from addictive or harmful features in games.

Another major concern is Roblox's chat features. The complaint says that even with safety measures, children can still be exposed to inappropriate content and contact from adults. Researchers found that children using accounts for under-13s saw sexual references and offensive language within minutes of joining some games. There have also been reports of grooming and exploitation on the platform.

Roblox made $4. 9 billion in revenue in 2025, which is a 36 percent increase from the previous year. The FTC has not yet said if it will start a formal investigation. As more people pay attention to how gaming and social media platforms protect young users and make money, there could be more rules and changes in the future. Some experts believe that just adding age limits is not enough, and that bigger changes are needed to keep children safe online.