Roblox drama just went from YouTube beef to potential primetime TV. Internet vigilante Schlep, known for tracking down predatory users and content on Roblox, has been banned from the platform. Allegedly, his work brought uncomfortable attention to the platform’s moderation — or lack thereof — and now the fallout is turning into something much bigger. According to @Roblox_RTC, former To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen has contacted Schlep and may work on a documentary about Roblox‘s child safety issues.
Roblox has long been under fire over accusations of becoming a hotspot for child groomers and predators. Meanwhile, Michael “Schlep,” a survivor of grooming, was banned and served cease-and-desist letters after his videos led to six arrests. His legal team claims the company is using intimidation tactics often used to silence its critics.
The controversy hit a new high when Congressman Ro Khanna launched The Save Roblox petition, urging stronger action on child safety concerns. Then, the Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office followed by filing a lawsuit against Roblox, citing the same issue.
Following this, the hashtags #FreeSchlep and #CancelRoblox and posts about content creators like KreekCraft quitting Roblox‘s Star Program affiliate are trending on social media.
To make things worse, Roblox‘s CEO David Baszucki has publicly said that he’s considering pushing the platform as a dating app. While using loneliness and mental wellness as excuses — yes, really. “Iโll go out on a limb and say for โ21 and up, ID verified, opted-in [users]โ someday weโll have dating on Roblox,โ David Baszucki said on TechSpot podcast The Story: Roblox and the Prehistoric Era of Gaming.
Thus, on paper, Chris Hansen Roblox documentary sounds like a slam dunk. A major media exposรฉ could force the company and platform to actually clean house. But surprisingly, not everyone’s cheering.
Some fear this sudden political and media attention isnโt just about protecting kids — it might be laying the groundwork for sweeping internet regulation. Critics point to the recent UK Online Safety Act, which has forced Xbox and even GTA, a Mature-rated game, to add age verification to their systems. The policy has been slammed for overreach and an unnecessary mandate among gamers.
“I am concerned that there is ulterior motive so that they can have a reason to pass an online age verification law, similar to what has been passed in UK which has seen significant backlash,” wrote AntonioS3 worried on Reddit.
“Never forget, the U16โs social media ban and Digital ID / Age verification laws is NOTHING about protecting our kids,” wrote @QBCCIntegrity. “Itโs entirely about surveilling and censoring”
@DeeterPlays offers another way to solve this dispute, “Roblox just needs to split into a version for people below a specific age and a different version/platform for people above a specific age.”
You might think Roblox deserves the heat — or not — still, one thing’s clear. This isn’t just a niche gaming scandal talked about between Roblox stans and clickbait YouTubers anymore. Between the lawsuits, the petitions, and now Chris Hansen getting involved, Roblox‘s troubles are turning into a mainstream spectacle. If history’s a channel guide, it’ll tell you this kind of spotlight rarely ends with a whimper.
