Oklahoma sheriff’s Office Warns of Online Predators Targeting Children โคon Roblox
OKLAHOMA -โ The Canadian โฃCounty Sheriff‘sโฃ Office is raising alarms about the potential for online exploitation of children using the popular gaming platform Roblox. Major adam Flowers with the Sheriff’s Officeโค urges parents to be actively involved in thier children’s online activities, emphasizing that prevention is key to avoiding lifelong trauma.
“It’s important that parents understand what the app โคis and how it works,” โMajor Flowers stated. “Make them be inโข the same room with the โparent while they’re playing the game.”
Authorities have observed predators using the platform’s virtual currency, Robux, to solicit inappropriate content from children, as highlighted in a recent Oklahoma lawsuit. The Sheriff’s โคOffice reportsโฃ cases ofโ exploitation involving children aged 8 to 17.
Warningโข signs of potential grooming or exploitation, โaccording to Major Flowers, include failing grades, increased desire for privacy, withdrawal from normal activities, and changesโ in makeup or wardrobe.
Roblox states it prioritizes user safety and has “rigorous safeguards” in place, including restrictions on sharing personal facts, links, and images, and banning users for engaging in sexual conversations. โขParents of children under 13โ have access to account โcontrols to manage content and review friends lists.
The company is currently working to expand age verification processes forโฃ all usersโค utilizing chat features. Currently, in-game messaging is prohibited for users under 13, with ageโค verification available throughโ selfie uploadsโฃ or ID verification โคfor those 13 and older.
Attorneys representing the Oklahoma family involved in the lawsuit acknowledge expanded age checks as a “promising step,” but maintainโฃ that “New โคtechnology alone will not rebuild trust” for families impacted by online predation.
Roblox reports 111 million dailyโ active usersโ as of thisโข year, with overโ half of its user baseโฃ beingโ older thanโค 13.