Gaming Platforms Like Roblox Used by Crime Gangs to Groom Children, Victoria Warns

Organised networks are targeting teens through gaming chats, social media and encrypted apps.

A 7-year-old teenage boy looks at a photo screen with Roblox, a social media networking app that will not be age-restricted in Sydney, Australia on Dec. 7, 2025. George Chan/Getty Images

Organised crime networks are exploiting online gaming platforms including Roblox to groom children and recruit them into criminal activity, Victoria’s violence prevention chief has warned.

Andrea Davidson, head of Victoria’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), said platforms that provide connection for young people are also creating new vulnerabilities that can be exploited.