The Dual Nature of Video Games: Benefits and Risks
Video games can significantly enhance individuals’ lives, offering everything from entertainment and social connections to cognitive stimulation and even physical activity. A plethora of research highlights the numerous advantages of gaming. However, there exists a less visible, darker aspect of this medium. Addressing these critical issues is the new Canadian documentary, “Dangerous Games: Roblox and the Metaverse Exposed,” created by Toronto filmmaker Ann Shin, in collaboration with TVO Docs and Fathom Film Group. This film delves into the concept of the “metaverse”—virtual environments where users engage through 3D avatars—focusing particularly on Roblox, a widely popular online game that empowers players to design their own gaming experiences.
Roblox and Its Troubling Popularity
According to Roblox Corporation, approximately 85 million individuals engage with the game daily, with nearly 40 percent of its users under the age of 13. This immense popularity, unfortunately, has made the platform vulnerable to exploitation by malicious individuals targeting children. Disturbingly, some Roblox experiences have been found to mimic notorious American mass shootings, as well as terrorist acts executed by white supremacists, as uncovered by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). In extreme cases, this dissemination of hateful ideology can incite individuals to commit violent hate crimes in the real world. Additionally, there are instances of sexual predators utilizing Roblox to groom young users.
The Documentary’s Origins and Investigation
Shin’s producer, Erica Leendertse, was motivated to explore this topic after her own children began playing Roblox and she learned about the presence of child predators and other illegal activities on the platform. “It was my producer’s idea because she had children playing Roblox, and she started reading up about child predators and other illegal activity that was going on the platform,” Shin explains. With a personal connection to the game through her own niece and nephew, both Shin and Leendertse became deeply invested in uncovering the troubling realities of Roblox.
Uncovering Disturbing Content
The duo quickly stumbled upon alarming content within Roblox. “Within several minutes, we were in a sexual den with S&M,” recalls Shin. “And we’re like, ‘Why are five-year-old kids playing a game where you can end up in a sex den?’ It’s chaos. It’s the Wild, Wild West here, and there needs to be some regulations put into place.” This alarming discovery became the catalyst for the film, with a strong commitment to raising awareness about these pressing issues.
Community Advocacy Through Personal Stories
Supporting their mission is Alex Farrugia, a Toronto teenager who has been an influential figure in the Roblox community since she was 13. Through her YouTube channel, TanookiAlex, she has created diverse Roblox content and transitioned into community management, music, and activism. Farrugia serves as a pivotal voice in the film, shedding light on the troubling aspects of Roblox, especially how sexual predators exploit the platform. One particularly concerning case involved a content creator known as DoctorRofatnik, who was found to be luring children through his popular Sonic the Hedgehog game. His true identity, Arnold Castillo of New Jersey, was revealed when he was arrested for grooming a minor online and arranging for her transportation across state lines; fortunately, the minor was rescued.
Challenges in Addressing Online Safety
Throughout the documentary, viewers witness Farrugia’s determination to alert the Roblox community about the dangers posed by individuals like DoctorRofatnik, especially after her friends fell victim to such threats. One of her ongoing frustrations is that even after exposing DoctorRofatnik and having his game removed—not for grooming, but due to copyright infringement—he simply reappeared under a different name, continuing his harmful behavior. Despite her efforts to raise awareness, Farrugia encountered online harassment, including doxxing—where personal information is leaked—as a consequence of her advocacy.
Farrugia’s Passion for Change
Farrugia remains resolute in her pursuit of change, stating, “This was important for me, because in particular, I’m a gamer myself. This is what I do. It’s my job — this is literally what I do for work. And it’s not just work, it’s a passion.” She emphasizes the importance of protecting the vibrant communities formed within these gaming platforms, reflecting on her own experiences as a child gamer. “I was once one of those kids — at the beginning of this documentary, I was 16, and it was when I was 14 that I really found that my friends were being lured by a lot of these bad actors, and I wanted to do something about it.”
Platforms and Their Responsibility
A significant focus of the film is how individuals like Castillo utilize messaging platforms such as Discord to communicate away from Roblox, allowing them to elude the platform’s oversight. Roblox Corporation often deflects responsibility for such incidents. The documentary reveals that Roblox integrates in-game connections with Discord, creating a direct and private communication channel between adults and children. Throughout the film’s four-year production, Shin notes the lack of cooperation from Discord. “A lot of grooming that starts on the platform goes off-platform in the [Discord] chat, and they’ve been non-responsive,” she states.
The Need for Youth Voices in Advocacy
Farrugia highlights the difficulty she and her peers faced in garnering attention from local politicians in Toronto due to their age. “A lot of people think, ‘Oh, you’re a teenager, you’re just gonna say crud,’” she explains. “We need to listen to young gamers in order to get a real perspective.” This realization led her to collaborate with two other teens in the U.S., Janae and Katie—one of whom was a target of DoctorRofatnik. Together, they have worked to raise awareness within the Roblox community, even traveling to Washington, D.C., to discuss these issues with lawmakers.
Addressing Online Harassment and Racism
The documentary also tackles the broader implications of harassment and racism within gaming platforms. An instance highlighted in the film shows Janae creating a Black avatar, only to face harassment and racist remarks, which ceased when she switched to a white character. “Aside from the real world spillover, everyone on these platforms, they really identify with their avatars,” Shin notes. “If an avatar is assaulted, you feel assaulted as a person, and the mental and psychological damage of that is practically the same.”
Progress and Continuing Challenges
Since the documentary’s production began, both Shin and Farrugia acknowledge some positive changes, such as Roblox implementing new parental controls and limiting messaging for users under the age of 13. However, Shin emphasizes that much more is needed. “It’s still the platform saying, ‘Hey, parents, look after your kids. We’re not gonna look after what’s going on here,’” she argues. Critics, including the UK-based digital behavioral insights agency Revealing Reality, have condemned Roblox for its insufficient policy changes, deeming the platform “deeply disturbing.”
Parental Guidance and Safeguarding Children
While some parents have outright banned their children from Roblox due to safety concerns, Farrugia advocates for a more balanced approach. “Roblox is just like a real-life playground. You wouldn’t leave your kid alone on the playground, so why would you leave them alone on Roblox online?” she suggests. Engaging in the game together can foster understanding and communication between parents and children regarding online interactions.
Education on Online Safety
Farrugia urges for enhanced educational initiatives on online safety, emphasizing the need for schools to incorporate internet safety into their curricula. “We need internet safety to really be a household standard, just like home economics, just like personal finance,” she asserts. She also points to resources such as Kids Help Phone and YMCA Canada, which offer valuable support and even host Roblox summer camps to create safe gaming environments.
Legislative Action for Online Safety
Looking ahead, Farrugia hopes increased awareness will lead to pressure on lawmakers and tech companies to implement necessary changes for child protection online. “I think it’s about needing to motivate these companies to change, and legislation is the way to do that,” she explains. She reflects on the previous government’s initiative to advance the Online Harms Act, which fell through amid political shifts. Current Prime Minister Mark Carney has expressed a commitment to addressing online safety for children, promising to pursue legislation against online exploitation and sextortion.
Concluding Thoughts on the Future
As the discussion surrounding online safety continues, both Shin and Farrugia encourage individuals and communities to voice their concerns, believing that collective action can prompt legislative progress. With the metaverse evolving into a significant facet of social interaction, the need for updated laws to safeguard users is more critical than ever. “We need similar [laws] with the metaverse, because the metaverse is essentially like video game social media,” concludes Farrugia. The documentary “Dangerous Games: Roblox and the Metaverse Exposed” aims to shed light on these pressing issues, advocating for a safer environment for young gamers.
