The chapter delves into a case involving the grooming and abuse of a teenage girl on Roblox by a 22-year-old man, resulting in his arrest and sentencing to 15 years in prison. It also explores the broader issue of online predators targeting minors on the platform and the challenges of ensuring child safety in virtual environments.
With tens of millions of users under the age of 13, Roblox has become the biggest online gaming playground for kids. The company says its combination of AI chat filters and human moderators makes the platform safe for users of all ages. But a Bloomberg Businessweek investigation suggests that Roblox may have striking vulnerabilities.
On today’s Big Take podcast, host David Gura speaks with reporters Olivia Carville and Cecilia D’Anastasio about the way predators have used the platform to groom children — and what Roblox is doing to keep young users safe.
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