Predatory Practices in Gaming
Online gaming has become one of the most popular forms of entertainment for children and teens. Platforms like Roblox, Fortnite, and others market themselves as safe, fun, and social environments. But behind the bright graphics and playful branding, these platforms have also become hunting grounds for predators.
Predators exploit ingame chat features, private messaging, and the anonymity of avatars to contact, groom, and exploit minors. What should be a safe space for play and creativity can quickly turn into a dangerous environment where children are exposed to inappropriate content, manipulation, and abuse.
If your child has been harmed through an online gaming platform, you may have legal options. Our attorneys are here to listen, investigate, and fight for justice on behalf of families, while working to make online gaming safer for every child.
How Game Design Contributes to the Problem
These platforms are not just failing to protect young users — in many cases, their very design makes children more vulnerable. Features like:
- Open chat systems that allow strangers to contact minors directly
- Anonymity that shields predators from accountability
- Reward systems and ingame purchases that encourage prolonged play and dependency
Together, these design choices create an environment where predators can thrive and where children are left unprotected.
Facts & Figures
Predatory gaming isn’t just a theoretical risk — research shows it’s a widespread and growing danger for children and teens.
- 500,000 predators online daily: At any given time, an estimated half a million predators are actively pursuing children online, often through multiple profiles.
- Gaming platforms as “hunting grounds”: The FBI has warned that video games with open chat features are prime spaces for predators to contact and groom children.
- 20% of kids solicited online: Studies show that one in five children has been sexually solicited online, yet 75% never tell a parent, and 90% of parents remain unaware.
- Realworld danger: About 14% of children who are solicited online have met predators in person, often more than once.
- Young users dominate platforms: On Roblox, for example, nearly 75% of users are under 25, with children making up the majority — creating a large, vulnerable target audience.
- Grooming tactics: Predators often build trust by pretending to be younger, offering gifts, or engaging in roleplay. In 34% of cases, they initiate sexual conversations as part of grooming.
Action & Accountability
Gaming companies know their platforms attract millions of children and teens, yet too often they fail to take the basic steps needed to keep young users safe. By allowing unsafe design features, ignoring red flags, and prioritizing profits over protection, these companies have created environments where predators can thrive.
Through predatory gaming lawsuits, families are demanding accountability. These cases argue that platforms like Roblox, Fortnite, and others:
- Failed to implement proper safeguards to protect minors from predators
- Ignored warning signs of exploitation and inappropriate content
- Designed addictive systems that keep children online longer, increasing their exposure to danger
- Marketed themselves as safe spaces while knowing the risks to young users
Litigation is not just about compensation — it’s about forcing change. By holding companies accountable, families can help push for stronger protections, safer design choices, and real oversight to prevent future harm.
Meet Our Predatory Gaming Attorneys
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