Elle - Roblox: When an online game becomes a hunting ground for paedophiles

A gaming platform that worries experts

Roblox is a free platform which offers a wide variety of games (adventures, simulations, role-playing games, etc.) and a creative aspect allowing children and young teenagers to create their own worlds. It also includes a real-time chat to communicate with other players, and that's precisely where the danger begins.

With more than 200 million monthly active users, Roblox has become a social phenomenon among young people. And yet, beneath its fun and colourful exterior, the platform has become a favourite haunt for paedophile criminals.

A chilling account

In December 2018, 10-year-old Adèle* downloaded Roblox to play online with her cousins. Her mother, Marianne, wasn't worried: «It was a game for creating a house, it looked like Sims, it didn't alarm me.»

What this mum doesn't know is that many adults are also playing Roblox and that all players can communicate freely with each other. A loophole that opens the door to predators.

«I came across a paedophile who called me «my little angel»,» recalls Adèle, now a teenager. He was in contact with around fifty children. We confided our problems to him, and he made us believe we were a family. But in the cellar of his virtual house, there was a cage with bars, a bed, and he would simulate having sex with us. He would ask me to put my character naked and place his on top. I had to make noises into the microphone while his character moved on top of mine. It was like that with lots of children. It went on for two years.»

The man quickly suggested that they continue chatting on Snapchat. Their contact was no longer limited to games: «He wanted naked photos of me, then videos. On Facetime, he taught me how to scarify myself. If I refused, he threatened to kill himself.»

Shaken by their divorce, Marianne and her ex-husband don't immediately realise that Adèle spends her nights on her tablet, under the spell of a Quebecker over 30.

In July 2022, Adèle's mother filed a complaint with the Office central pour la répression des violences aux personnes (OCRVP) for corruption of a minor. Her case was also sent to Interpol, but she has not heard from him since.

A warning from Véronique Béchu, child protection expert

In Europe, 11 million children under the age of 13 connect to Roblox every day. But behind its harmless design, this virtual playground is actually a jungle where, for a long time, there were no real safeguards to protect minors.

«It's currently the preferred place for phishing children», says Véronique Béchu, Director of the Observatory on Digital Violence against Minors at the e-Enfance / 3018 association. She adds: «Unlike other games, Roblox allows strangers to make direct contact with children via instant voice and text chat. This advantage explains the high concentration of predators on the platform.»

What can you do to protect your children?

Protecting your children online requires constant vigilance and practical measures:

Activate parental controls. Install parental control software on all the devices your child uses (tablet, smartphone, computer). These tools allow you to limit screen time, filter out inappropriate content and monitor the applications used. Many parental controls also offer the option of blocking chat functions in games.

Check your privacy settings. Make sure that the games your child plays have security settings activated. On Roblox , for example, you can deactivate chat or restrict it to approved friends.

Talk to your child. Explain the potential dangers of chatting to strangers online and encourage them to talk to you if someone makes them feel uncomfortable or asks for personal information.

Keep an eye out for warning signs. A change in behaviour, a child who hides their screen, spends more and more time online at night or seems anxious may be signs that they are experiencing a problem online.

For further information: read the full article - 31 december - HER