Two prominent child safety organizations—Fairplay and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE)—have formally asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Roblox, alleging the gaming giant engages in “unfair and deceptive” practices that endanger minors. The 86-page complaint, filed Wednesday with FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson and Commissioner Mark Meador, claims the platform violates Section 5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits deceptive commercial conduct.
The groups argue that Roblox’s design features, including its virtual currency system and communication tools, are “developmentally inappropriate” for its massive young user base. “Roblox’s engagement-maximizing design features, virtual currency system, and voice and text chat communication features are developmentally inappropriate for the platform’s massive young user base and pose a substantial risk of harm,” the complaint states.
Virtual Currency Under Fire
A central focus of the complaint is Robux, Roblox’s virtual currency. The groups contend that the platform’s layered conversion rates and bundled pricing obscure real costs, making it difficult for young users to understand how much actual money they are spending. “By pushing young users to make purchases through a complex system of layered virtual currencies, Roblox is able to abstract, obscure, and wildly inflate the true cost of in-game items,” the complaint alleges.
Roblox disputed these claims, with a spokesperson noting that most games on the platform are free to play and users are “not required to purchase” Robux. According to the company, only 1.4 percent of its 132 million daily active users are paying players. The spokesperson also highlighted policies prohibiting gambling and regulating paid random items.
Safety and Moderation Concerns
The complaint also targets Roblox’s chat features, age verification, and content moderation. While Roblox requires age verification for chat access and does not encrypt communications, the groups argue these measures are insufficient. The platform bans image and video sharing and offers parental controls for monitoring activity and purchase history. Next month, Roblox plans to introduce age-based accounts that match users to age-appropriate games.
Roblox faces dozens of lawsuits over its safety practices, including age verification and content moderation, with multiple states alleging the platform exposes children to abusive or sexual content. Some states have reached settlements, prompting the company to implement changes. For context, similar concerns about youth safety have been raised in other contexts, such as recent data linking childhood trauma to youth crime, underscoring the broader stakes of platform regulation.
Kentucky’s new anti-grooming law has also sparked calls for a federal standard on child protection, reflecting growing bipartisan concern over online safety. Meanwhile, the FTC’s investigation into Roblox could set a precedent for how virtual economies and communication tools are regulated for minors.
Roblox’s spokesperson said the company “strongly disputes these claims” and emphasized its safeguards, including clear policies for game creators and a commitment to a safe environment. “While no system can be perfect, we have a set of safeguards designed to support a safe and civil environment,” the spokesperson added.
The FTC has not yet announced whether it will take action on the complaint. The outcome could have significant implications for the gaming industry and digital platforms serving children, as policymakers increasingly scrutinize the intersection of technology, commerce, and child welfare.
