US groups urge investigation into child safety and spending on Roblox

US groups urge investigation into child safety and spending on Roblox Children as young as five are at risk of being contacted by strangers and pressured into spending money on Roblox, campaigners have claimed in a complaint to US regulators. Advocacy groups have asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the hugely popular gaming platform for alleged "unfair and deceptive" practices. The filing raised concerns about in-game purchases, chat features and what it described as "engagem

Roblox rejected the claims, saying the platform was "built for fun and connection, not short-term engagement". A spokesperson said it had "clear policies" banning actual and simulated gambling, as well as rules governing paid random items. They said most games were free to play and users are not required to buy the in-game currency Robux. "In the first quarter of 2026, only 1.4% of our 132 million daily active users were payers on the platform," they added. However, some campaigners and parents remain worried about the time and money spent by children on the site. The complaint submitted by child safety organisations Fairplay and the National Centre on Sexual Exploitation on Wednesday centred on Roblox's in-game economy. Its virtual currency Robux can be purchased and then used to buy game passes or upgrades for avatars, such as outfits. The groups argued the system was too complex and difficult for children to understand. According to the filing, it was "nearly impossible" to track the real-world cost of virtual items. In one example included in the complaint, a parent said their 10-year-old daughter spent more than $7,000 (£5,200) in two months despite attempts to limit purchases. The filing also alleged "engagement-maximising" design features were used to keep children on Roblox. These included incentives such as daily reward streaks and systems which encourage social comparison by displaying other players' virtual possessions, it said.

Key points

• Roblox rejected the claims, saying the platform was "built for fun and connection, not short-term engagement".
• A spokesperson said it had "clear policies" banning actual and simulated gambling, as well as rules governing paid random items.
• They said most games were free to play and users are not required to buy the in-game currency Robux.
• "In the first quarter of 2026, only 1.4% of our 132 million daily active users were payers on the platform," they added.
• However, some campaigners and parents remain worried about the time and money spent by children on the site.