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A Vigilante Shut Down

Roblox is facing a storm of criticism after banning YouTuber Schlep, who posed as a child to catch predators inside the game. Instead of backing his efforts, the company issued a cease-and-desist and threatened legal action, calling his work “digital vigilantism.”

For many players, this decision showed Roblox is more interested in silencing critics than protecting kids.

A Platform With Safety Problems

Safety concerns on Roblox aren’t new. For years, the platform has been under fire for failing to protect children from predators. Investigations and even lawsuits, like the one from the state of Louisiana, have piled on the pressure.

Roblox’s official stance is that vigilantes create more danger by luring predators into unsafe conversations instead of reporting them. But players argue the reporting tools don’t work well enough, leaving children exposed.

Players Push for Leadership Change

The backlash has quickly turned into a movement. A Change.org petition started by a 14-year-old player calling for the removal of CEO David Baszucki has already surpassed 50,000 signatures.

The petition claims Roblox is “supposed to be a safe and creative space for children,” but that under Baszucki’s leadership, safety has been “compromised.”

“The children of Roblox are at stake of what the CEO is allowing,” it states. “They are allowing predators to exploit children. This needs to change.”

Roblox’s Response Isn’t Enough

Roblox has tried to defend its actions in a lengthy blog post, saying impersonating minors and leading predators into conversations is unacceptable. The company insists its in-game reporting tools are the best way to handle abuse.

But players aren’t convinced. To them, banning Schlep sends the message that Roblox cares more about protecting its image than its players.

A Company Losing Trust

Roblox boasts over 100 million daily players, but that massive reach is under threat. By punishing someone who was exposing predators, the company has ignited a backlash that could change its leadership.

The call from players is clear: David Baszucki has failed to keep Roblox safe, and it’s time for him to step down.