A family in British Columbia is taking Roblox to court, saying the wildly popular online gaming platform hooked their child and wouldn’t let go.
They’ve just filed a class action lawsuit against the online gaming giant, claiming the platform was built to keep kids playing for hours and that their 12-year-old got caught in the trap.
According to the lawsuit, the child first started playing Roblox at around five or six years old. Not long after, their parents say they saw worrying changes constant screen time, fights over turning the game off, slipping grades.
None of this has been proven in court yet, but the case is already sparking conversations with parents who know how hard it can be to get their kids to log off.
Roblox is huge with kids and tweens, offering thousands of little games inside the platform. Players can hang out with friends, meet strangers online, and spend real money on in-game items.
Jeffrey Derevensky, a psychology professor emeritus at McGill University who studies gaming behavior, says it’s not surprising families are taking action.
“Parents are worried their kids are addicted,” he said. “They’re having trouble turning the game off, which affects family time and schoolwork.”
Derevensky says the red flag is when a child keeps playing despite clear rules or consequences, like falling behind in school. He adds that part of what makes Roblox so sticky is its design because it’s fun, social, and there’s always something new to do.
But he also says parents have to set limits early and actually stick to them, which isn’t always easy when kids push back.
Roblox hasn’t commented publicly on the lawsuit. For now, one B.C. family is hoping their legal fight will make the company take a hard look at how its games keep kids playing.