‘My daughter, 14, was groomed after meeting man on Roblox’
My daughter, 14, was groomed after meeting man on Roblox
A Mother’s Outcry Over Roblox’s Role in Child Exploitation
A parent from Greater Manchester has criticized Roblox for failing to shield her 14-year-old daughter from online grooming. The teenager, who met Carlo Tritta on the gaming platform in September 2024, was manipulated into sharing explicit content with the 18-year-old. The mother described her emotional response upon discovering the relationship, emphasizing the platform’s insufficient measures.
“I said ‘Oh, who’s that?’ and she was crying and saying ‘Please don’t look at my phone, please don’t look at my phone’. I just knew then that’s not her and I needed to see what was on this phone. That’s where it all started to unravel. There were a lot of sexual images, videos, really bad ones.”
Carlo Tritta’s Actions and Legal Consequences
Carlo Tritta, now 19 and based in Eastleigh, Hampshire, was sentenced to two years and four months for crimes including creating indecent images of a child, engaging in sexual communication, and exposing the victim to sexual content. He also admitted to intimidating witnesses and causing damage. His actions escalated after the victim’s mother uncovered troubling messages, prompting her to intervene.
“I was just shocked, bewildered, really angry. Not with my daughter because I had to keep saying to her ‘I’m not angry with you’ but I couldn’t speak. I don’t think your brain can take in what you’re seeing and obviously that’s your child.”
Roblox’s Response and Safety Measures
A Roblox representative expressed concern over the incident, stating the company was “saddened to hear of this troubling case” and “committed to building safeguards to prevent such occurrences.” The platform, which hosts 40 million user-generated games, requires age verification for communication but acknowledges the need for stronger protections against adult predators targeting children.
“With more than 144 million daily active users on Roblox, cases of harm are rare, but we know any incident of harm is one too many. We are committed to building safeguards designed to prevent that from happening.”
How the Grooming Unfolded
The abuse began as a casual Roblox interaction, evolving into a deepening relationship. Tritta lured the victim into private messaging, where he professed affection and shared personal details. He gained access to her social media accounts, monitoring her interactions and controlling her online activities. This control left the girl feeling trapped, leading to suicidal thoughts and sleep disturbances.
Breaking the Bail Conditions
Tritta was initially released on police bail with strict conditions, including no contact with the victim. However, he violated these rules, traveling 200 miles from Hampshire to her home. He disabled the doorbell camera and entered the house, allegedly discussing nightmares with the mother while she and her daughter were crafting Christmas cards. Tritta also sent the victim cards urging her to oppose the prosecution and report her family to authorities.
A Call for Safer Digital Spaces
The mother now urges other parents to be vigilant about children’s use of platforms like Roblox. “It’s dangerous – it needs to be watched,” she said. “It’s a kids’ game, but adults are getting on there to groom children. So they need to do something about it. It should just be for kids. Not for adults to go on to groom.”