BBC News | US groups urge investigation into child safety and spending on Roblox
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U.S. advocacy groups Fairplay and the National Centre on Sexual Exploitation have filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission urging an investigation into Roblox’s “unfair and deceptive” practices that they say endanger children, who as young as five can be exposed to unsafe contacts, pressured into spending large sums of money, and drawn into “engagement‑maximising” design features such as daily reward streaks, social‑comparison displays, and loot‑box‑like mechanics. The complaint highlights how the platform’s virtual currency, Robux, is complex and difficult for kids to understand, citing a case where a 10‑year‑old spent over $7,000 in two months despite parental limits, and alleges that text and voice chat can expose users to sexual references, grooming and exploitation despite existing safety measures. Roblox denies the allegations, stating it is built for fun and connection, that it bans gambling‑related content, and that only a small fraction (1.4 %) of its 132 million daily active users make purchases; the company has added age‑estimation tools and chat restrictions for minors, but critics argue these steps are insufficient and call for broader legislative action to curb addictive and potentially exploitative features.
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