More than 100,000 outraged parents and players are demanding Roblox CEO David Baszucki’s resignation, accusing the $25 billion gaming platform of systemic Roblox child safety failures. A petition launched on August 9, 2025, alleges the company ignored exploitation risks, protected predators, and silenced critics—escalating a crisis that now involves law enforcement and child safety advocates.
How Safe is Roblox for Young Users?
Roblox hosts 65 million daily users under 16, but recent incidents reveal alarming gaps. The petition claims:
- Predators remained active even after being reported.
- Automated moderation systems wrongfully banned innocent children while allowing explicit content.
- Whistleblowers faced retaliation from Roblox staff.
Internal documents cited by The Wall Street Journal (August 2025) confirm moderators flagged over 1,200 high-risk accounts monthly in 2024—yet fewer than 15% faced immediate bans. Experts argue this reflects flawed priorities. “When profit overshadows protection, kids pay the price,” states Dr. Laura Smith, child psychologist at Stanford’s Cyber Safety Center.
Leadership Under Fire
The backlash intensified after Roblox banned “Schlep,” a predator-hunting YouTuber, issuing a cease-and-desist letter for “unauthorized safety investigations.” Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman defended the ban in an August 16 video, calling vigilante actions “dangerous.” Critics counter that Roblox’s own systems are inadequate.
To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen escalated scrutiny on August 15, announcing a joint investigation with law enforcement into Roblox exploitation. “Schlep provided evidence Roblox ignored,” Hansen stated on X/Twitter. The platform’s stock dipped 7% following his involvement.
Parental Safeguards and Next Steps
While Roblox promotes tools like parental controls and chat filters, cybersecurity firm Guardio Labs (2025 Report) found predators bypassing filters via coded slang (e.g., “water” for personal information). Parents are urged to:
- Enable “Restricted Mode” to limit interactions.
- Audit friend lists weekly.
- Report concerns directly to law enforcement alongside platform moderators.
Roblox’s future hinges on restoring trust through transparency, third-party audits, and overhauling reactive moderation. For 65 million young users, safety can’t be a patch note—it must be the core code.
Must Know
Q: What triggered the Roblox petition?
A: It launched after Roblox banned anti-predator activist Schlep despite his evidence of child exploitation. The petition hit 100,000 signatures in 5 days.
Q: How does Roblox’s moderation fail children?
A: Per user reports, automated systems punish victims reporting abuse while slow-rolling predator bans. Human moderators often miss coded predatory language.
Q: What should parents do immediately?
A: Activate “Account Restrictions” in settings, disable chat, and regularly review play histories. Report concerns via Roblox Support and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Q: Is Chris Hansen’s investigation credible?
A: Yes. Hansen collaborates with FBI Cyber Division units and state attorneys general, per his August 15 announcement.
Sources: The Wall Street Journal (August 2025), Guardio Labs 2025 Child Safety Report, Stanford Cyber Safety Center, Chris Hansen (X/Twitter, August 15, 2025), Roblox Safety Update Video (August 16, 2025)
————————————————
