Two Nonprofits Filed. The FTC Now Has to Decide.

On May 20, 2026, nonprofits Fairplay and the National Center on Sexual Exploitation filed a formal complaint with the Federal Trade Commission asking the agency to investigate Roblox.

The complaint, reported by the Los Angeles Times, BBC News, CBS News, and the Epoch Times, targets three specific platform features: engagement-maximizing design, a deliberately confusing virtual currency system, and chat tools that give adults access to children.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford said at a press conference last month that Roblox has roughly 151.5 million daily active users — and that nearly half of all American children under 16 use the platform.

42 percent of users are under 13 years old.

Roblox requires users to be at least 5 years old to create an account.

The Money Trap

Here's how the spending system works, according to the FTC complaint as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Roblox uses a proprietary in-game currency called Robux. Real dollars convert to Robux at fluctuating rates depending on bundle size — buy more, get a better rate. A "Roblox Premium" subscription also changes the conversion. The result: kids cannot easily calculate how much real money they're spending.

The complaint also calls out "scarcity marketing" — limited-time items, countdown timers, fear of missing out. These techniques are designed to manipulate purchasing behavior, particularly among children with undeveloped impulse control.

One parent, cited in the complaint and reported by the Los Angeles Times, discovered his daughter had spent more than $5,000 on Roblox without understanding she was spending actual money.

Roblox's Defense

Roblox did respond. A spokesperson told BBC News that the platform was "built for fun and connection, not short-term engagement" and claimed it has "clear policies" banning gambling and governing paid random items.

The spokesperson also said most games are free and that users are NOT required to buy Robux.

Here's their headline stat: "In the first quarter of 2026, only 1.4% of our 132 million daily active users were payers on the platform."

1.4% of 132 million equals 1.85 million paying users — on a platform where nearly half the American under-16 population has an account.

Roblox also told BBC News it has taken steps to address past criticism, including blocking children from chatting with adults and using age-estimation technology to sort users into age-appropriate accounts.

The Legal Avalanche Underway

The FTC complaint is the latest pressure point, but it's far from the only one.

According to CBS News, Oklahoma recently became the latest state to sue Roblox, alleging the company "turned a blind eye as predators targeted and exploited minors on its platform." Indiana filed a similar lawsuit earlier this month. Florida, Texas, Iowa, Kentucky, and Georgia are also examining or pursuing litigation.

In December 2025, federal courts consolidated many of the individual lawsuits into a multidistrict litigation proceeding — meaning one judge now oversees dozens of cases moving in parallel. As of early May 2026, nearly 150 Roblox lawsuits had been filed within that MDL.

The pattern across those lawsuits is consistent: predators posed as children, used Roblox's chat tools to contact minors, and then groomed or sexually exploited them. Plaintiffs argue Roblox knew the risk and chose engagement over safety.

What This Means for Parents Right Now

Seven states are suing or pursuing litigation, 150 federal lawsuits are consolidated before one judge, and now a formal FTC complaint has been filed.

If your child is on Roblox — and statistically, there's a 50-50 chance they are — check their purchase history today. Check the chat logs as well.