Roblox faces proposed B.C. lawsuit from 12-year-old over addiction claims
A 12-year-old in British Columbia is suing Roblox, alleging the popular online game was designed to keep kids hooked and spending money.
The proposed class action was filed in the B.C. Supreme Court on Sept. 18, and it will hold significant national relevance if it’s approved.
According to the Notice of Civil Claim, the child, identified only as D.J. and represented by a parent, G.J., started playing Roblox around age five or six and quickly developed signs of addiction.
The lawsuit accuses Roblox Corporation and Roblox Canada of making the platform hard to put down by using unpredictable rewards, constant prompts to buy its in-game currency Robux, and design tricks that capitalize on children’s fear of missing out.
According to the court documents, these elements can cause serious problems for young players, from anxiety and depression to compulsive behaviour and overspending.
The filing also points to the World Health Organization’s recognition of “gaming disorder” as a real mental health condition.
While the plaintiff is from B.C., the proposed class definition is broader. If certified, it would cover Canadian users who fall into three subclasses identified in the pleadings.
“This case seeks to address the tension between the interests of game companies like Roblox in maximizing engagement (which drives revenue) and the ethical need to protect vulnerable users, particularly children,” Charlotte Harman, an associate lawyer at Slater Vecchio LLP, which is representing the plaintiff, told Daily Hive in an email.
The lawsuit asks the court to let it move forward as a class action on behalf of Canadian children who were harmed by Roblox. It also seeks damages and a return of profits made from these practices.
What that means, according to the Class Proceedings Act, is that the claim is not yet a trial. First, the judge must decide whether it can move forward as a class action.
That means the court would group together many similar complaints into a single case, instead of each person having to sue on their own.
If the court “certifies” the case, it would then proceed to the next stage, where evidence is tested, and Roblox would have to respond.
This is not the first time a gaming company has faced such claims.
Daily Hive previously reported in November 2024 that Montreal-based Consumer Law Group (CLG) announced investigations into dozens of major firms, including Google, Microsoft, Epic Games, and Electronic Arts, over allegations they “deliberately concealed” the addictive nature of their games and platforms.
That proposed nationwide action also named Roblox among the companies being examined.
For this case, Roblox has until Oct. 3 to file its response to the claim in B.C. Supreme Court, according to the court’s documents.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Daily Hive has reached out to Roblox Corp. and BC Children’s Hospital for comment.
With files from Irish Mae Silvestre