Roblox Lawsuit Alleges Entire Platform Built Around Exploitation of Child Labor

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Roblox Corporation faces a proposed class action lawsuit that alleges the blockbuster open-world gaming platform is “built on the exploitation of children,” who make up the vast majority of its user base and, by playing, serve as de facto developers. 

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The 48-page Roblox class action lawsuit says that although the loyalty of millions of minors has turned the online universe into a smash success, the company has systematically taken advantage of children while “expos[ing] them to unsafe, unregulated, and grotesque virtual experiences,” as well as “predatory conduct” from adult users. At the same time, the case relays, Roblox touts itself as a “wholesome educational tool” that is safe for children to use. 

“Specifically, Roblox has built its entire platform around profiting from the creative development of its users—most of whom are children—and exploiting their labor for Roblox’s own profit,” the lawsuit summarizes. 

In exchange for their work on the Roblox platform, where players can program their own games or play games created by others, minor users, who are responsible for creating the worlds and games within the platform, are paid in Robux, the digital currency that can be used to make virtual purchases within the Roblox ecosystem, the suit relays. Per the complaint, Robux have real monetary value, with 1,000 Robux equating roughly to $3.50 in real-world money. 

Crucially, in order to convert Robux to dollars, a user must first meet several criteria, including having a minimum of at least 30,000 Robux in their account and paying a monthly Roblox subscription fee, the lawsuit shares. As a result, many child developers on Roblox are unable to ever cash out their Robux for real-world money since they fall short of the platform’s requirements to do so, the complaint says. 

“Roblox, of course, makes money every time Robux is involved in a transaction, whether selling an item directly to a user, or taking a cut from user-to-user sales,” the suit reads. “Roblox is thus exploiting child labor and offering children nearly worthless digital currency for their labor.” 

The lawsuit says that when proposed class members bought Robux, either for themselves or for minor users, they did so “based on Roblox’s representations that it is a wholesome, educational platform for children.” Had they known that their Robux purchases “would be used to support child exploitation” and allow Roblox to profit at the expense of its minor user base, “they never would have purchased Robux as they did,” the case contends. 

In the first nine months of 2023, consumers bought $2.39 billion in Robux, the filing points out. 

The complaint goes on to allege that the design of the Roblox platform was specifically intended to “addict users—especially children—and encourage play for longer periods of time.” Accordingly, the case alleges, getting kids “addicted to Roblox” ensures that they spend more time in the game, which increases Roblox’s profits. 

“Roblox conceals these dangerous addictive properties, while at the same time holding the platform out as safe and educational for its users,” the suit charges. 

The lawsuit looks to cover all consumers nationwide who bought Robux, through any platform or method of purchase, within the United States during the applicable statute of limitations period. 

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