A United States Senate committee has opened a formal investigation into child safety measures at Roblox Corporation, a US-based company that operates the online gaming platform Roblox. The inquiry focuses on how the company protects minors from harmful interactions and inappropriate content, and whether its policies and systems adequately safeguard children who use the service.
The Senate Commerce Committee said it has issued a letter of inquiry to Roblox Corporation, requesting information on its age verification procedures, content moderation practices, and steps taken to prevent exploitation of younger users on the platform. Committee members cited concerns that children using the service may be exposed to cyberbullying, explicit material, or online grooming despite existing safety features. The company was given a deadline to respond with relevant documents, internal policies, and descriptions of how it enforces protection measures.
Roblox Corporation said in a statement that it is committed to child safety and has invested in systems and personnel to enforce community standards and detect harmful behaviour. The company said it reviews reports from users and uses automated tools to identify content that violates its policies, and that it updates its safeguards based on emerging threats and expert guidance. Roblox also said it engages with law enforcement and child protection organisations to address serious risks.
Senators on the committee said the investigation does not imply legal wrongdoing but reflects a broader review of whether online platforms’ safety measures are keeping pace with risks faced by children online. Committee leadership said it will examine industry practices and may consider legislative changes if it finds gaps in protections. The inquiry’s information requests cover user reporting systems, content moderation staffing and technologies, and metrics used to evaluate safety outcomes for minors.
Roblox is widely used by children and teenagers and allows users to create and interact within virtual worlds and games developed by community members. The platform’s popularity among younger users has drawn regulatory interest in recent years, with critics arguing that games and social features can expose children to inappropriate material or contact with strangers. Roblox’s user policies require accounts for under-13s to have parental email addresses and offer optional parental controls, but senators questioned whether these measures are sufficient.
The Senate panel’s inquiry is part of a wider trend of legislative scrutiny in the United States and other countries over online safety for children. Lawmakers have examined social networks, gaming platforms, and messaging services for policies on age verification, data protection, and moderation practices. The outcome of the inquiry into Roblox Corporation could influence future regulatory approaches to protecting minors in digital environments.