Consumer News: Investigation finds gaps in Roblox’s child safety measures

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Consumer Daily Reports

Details: Written by Consumer Affairs News; Category: Consumer Daily Reports; Published: 15 April 2025; Created: 15 April 2025; Last Updated: 15 April 2025

Children as young as five exposed to explicit content and inadequate protective measures, the report found

By Truman Lewis

of ConsumerAffairs

April 15, 2025

Key takeaways:

Kids as young as 5 encountered explicit content and unsupervised contact with adults
Safety controls found to be weak despite Roblox's recent updates
Platform calls for government action and industry collaboration to protect young users

A deeply disturbing investigation has raised serious concerns about the safety of children on the massively popular gaming platform Roblox, where kids as young as five were found to be exposed to graphic content and interactions with adults, despite platform safeguards.

The findings, reported by The Guardiancome from a study by digital behavior research firm Revealing Reality, and point to a stark disconnect between Robloxs child-friendly branding and the reality of what young users experience on the platform. The report documents multiple incidents of age-inappropriate environments, sexual content, and grooming risks faced by young users.

Safety controls that exist are limited in their effectiveness and there are still significant risks for children on the platform, the report concludes.

Avatars as young as 5 accessed suggestive content

To conduct the investigation, researchers created multiple fake Roblox accounts registered to fictional users aged 5, 9, 10, 13, and 40+. These accounts only interacted with each other, ensuring results were not influenced by real users.

They found that even very young avatars could access highly suggestive environments, including virtual hotel rooms with sexualized roleplay and fetish gear, and bathroom settings where avatars mimicked inappropriate behavior. Audio chat also exposed users to sexually explicit sounds and conversations, despite Robloxs claim that its voice features are AI-moderated and restricted to verified users aged 13 and older.

In one alarming example, an adult test account was able to request a five-year-old avatars Snapchat handle using thinly veiled language highlighting how easily built-in filters and moderation systems can be bypassed, the Guardian reported.

Roblox responds, but pressure mounts

In response, Roblox Corporation acknowledged the presence of harmful content and bad actors on its platform and said it is working to strengthen safeguards. However, the company stressed that tens of millions of people have a positive, enriching, and safe experience on Roblox every day.

It also called for government intervention and broader industry efforts to help address these systemic issues.

We deeply sympathize with any parent whose child has had a harmful experience, a Roblox spokesperson said.

Despite recent updates including new parental controls and restrictions for users under 13, Revealing Reality found these measures to be inconsistently effective and easily circumvented.

Parents Voice Alarm

The findings echo the growing concern among parents over childrens screen time, online addiction, and exposure to danger on open digital platforms. Many have voiced frustration that current moderation tools fail to keep pace with evolving online threats, particularly in user-generated environments like Roblox.

With more than 85 million daily users, 40% of whom are estimated to be under 13, Robloxs influence on young audiences is profound and experts say these revelations should serve as a wake-up call for both the company and regulators.

We must stop assuming that a child-friendly appearance equals a child-safe experience, the report warns.

As the debate over online child safety intensifies, the Roblox case may become a litmus test for digital accountability in an era dominated by user-created content and AI-driven moderation.

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Posted: 2025-04-15 17:49:30

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It marks a reversal from the companys recent downsizing trend.

By Mark Huffman

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CVS plans to open more new retail locations than it closes in 2026, signaling a strategic pivot after years of downsizing.
The company is focusing on smaller-format stores and health-focused locations tied to its care delivery strategy.
Executives say the shift reflects changing consumer demand and a renewed emphasis on in-person services.

It turns out brick-and-mortar retail may not be headed for extinction. CVS Health is preparing to expand its retail footprint in 2026, marking a notable shift after several years of store closures aimed at streamlining operations and adapting to changing consumer habits.

The company announced that it expects to open more stores than it closes thisyear, reversing a downsizing trend that saw hundreds of locations shuttered across the U.S. since 2021. The move reflects growing confidence in its evolving retail model, which blends traditional pharmacy services with a broader health care offering.

"Pharmacists are among the most accessible and most trusted health care providers," Len Shankman, a senior executive at CVS Health, told Healthcare Finance. "We know how important it is for patients to be able to speak one-on-one with their pharmacist, have their questions answered, and seek medication advice when needed."

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Rather than returning to its legacy large-format stores, CVS is prioritizing smaller, more targeted locations. Many of the planned openings will be designed to support health care services, including primary care, chronic disease management, and wellness monitoring.

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CVSearlier store closure program was part of a multi-year plan to reduce costs and eliminate underperforming locations. Between 2021 and 2024, the company announced the closure of roughly 900 stores, citing shifting shopping patterns and increased digital adoption.

But while foot traffic for traditional retail items has declined, demand for in-person health care services has remained strong. That dynamic is driving the companys renewed investment in brick-and-mortar locations.

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Consumer News: U.S. employers hired fewer people in February
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Food service and construction saw the biggest slowdown

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U.S. job openings held steady at 6.9 million in February, signaling a relatively stable but cooling labor market.
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Worker quits and layoffs were largely unchanged, suggesting cautious behavior from both employees and employers.

If you think its getting harder to find a job, its not your imagination. Employers have pumped the brakes on hiring.

In its latest report on job openings, the Labor Department found that hiring slowed considerably in February, even as job openings and overall separations remained relatively stable.

Employers reported 6.9 million job openings at the end of February, essentially unchanged from the prior month. The job openings rate held at 4.2%, indicating that while demand for workers persists, it is no longer expanding at the pace seen in recent years.

The more significant shift came in hiring activity. Employers brought on 4.8 million workers during the month, a drop of nearly 500,000 from January. The hiring rate fell to 3.1%, its lowest level since April 2020, during the early months of the pandemic. Compared with a year earlier, hiring is down by 387,000.

Where it was harder to find work

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Quits, a key measure of worker confidence, remained unchanged at 3.0 million. The quit rate stayed at 1.9%, reflecting a workforce that is neither aggressively seeking new opportunities nor retreating sharply. Declines in quits were seen in accommodation and food services, wholesale trade, and the federal government, while nondurable goods manufacturing posted a modest increase.

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Layoffs and discharges also showed little movement, holding at 1.7 million with a rate of 1.1%. However, there were some sector-specific shifts. Retail trade saw an increase of 72,000 layoffs, while nondurable goods manufacturing and the federal government recorded declines.

Other separations including retirements and transfers fell by 75,000 to 277,000.

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Consumer News: In a surprise, the Consumer Confidence Index rose in March
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U.S. consumer confidence edged higher in March, marking a second straight monthly gain.
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Federal safety officials have pushed major online marketplaces to remove dangerous male-to-male extension cords from sale.
The cords can expose live electrical prongs, creating a high risk of electrocution, fire, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
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Federal regulators are warning consumers that just because a product is sold by a reputable U.S. retailer that it meets all safety standards. Some consumer products imported from China do not.

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The cords, sometimes referred to as suicide cords, feature two male ends with exposed prongs. When plugged into a power source, those prongs can become energized, posing a severe risk of electrocution or fire. Federal officials say the products have no legitimate household use and should never be used under any circumstances.

These cords pose a serious risk of fire and electrocution, said CPSC Acting Chairman Peter Feldman in a statement. We are now taking the next step by securing delisting commitments from e-commerce platforms to remove these dangerous products from the marketplace.

The agency also warned that the cords are frequently used in a hazardous practice known as backfeeding, in which a generator is connected directly to a homes electrical system. This can energize power lines unexpectedly, putting users, utility workers, and others at risk of serious injury or death.

Additional risk

Compounding the danger, the cords are typically short, increasing the likelihood that generators will be operated too close to homes or in enclosed spaces. That raises the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, a potentially fatal hazard.

The recalled-style cords were commonly sold in blue, red, or yellow and feature three-prong black plugs on both ends. They were manufactured in China and sold online by multiple third-party sellers across the platforms. Among those identified by regulators are Shenzhen Lieniao Import & Export, Wz-Ei Co. Ltd., Ganjiang New District Yuslow Toys Sales Co. Ltd., and several other China-based companies operating storefronts on eBay and AliExpress.

According to the CPSC, those sellers have not responded to requests for recalls or additional product information. Despite that, the agency said it was able to work directly with the marketplaces to remove the listings and secure commitments to identify and delist similar products going forward.

Consumers who have purchased the cords are urged to stop using them immediately. The CPSC advises unplugging the cords carefully and avoiding contact with the exposed prongs before disposing of them.

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Consumer News: In a surprise, the Consumer Confidence Index rose in March
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But consumers are clearly worried about the future

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U.S. consumer confidence edged higher in March, marking a second straight monthly gain.
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The Present Situation Index jumped 4.6 points to 123.3, reflecting improved views of business activity and the labor market. By contrast, the Expectations Index fell 1.7 points to 70.9well below the threshold of 80 that often signals a potential recession ahead.

Inflation expectations are up

Prioritizing essentials

At the same time, households are prioritizing essentials and lower-cost activities. Spending plans for services declined across most categories, with consumers focusing on necessities such as utilities and healthcare while cutting back on discretionary expenses like travel. Foreign travel plans dropped sharply, likely due to geopolitical tensions, while domestic travel held steadier.

Overall, while current conditions appear to be stabilizing, the outlook suggests consumers remain warybalancing a still-solid present against a more uncertain future.

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