Roblox, Discord, and Child Safety: New Lawsuit Highlights Dangers Parents Can’t Ignore

In September 2025, the tragic story of 15-year-old Ethan Dallas came to light. Ethan, a bright and creative teenager from California, loved video games. Roblox was his favorite. Like many kids, he played online after school, connected with friends, and spent hours building and chatting.

But what began as fun turned into a nightmare. According to lawsuits filed in California and reported by the New York Times and NBC News, Ethan was groomed online by a predator posing as a child. That predator encouraged Ethan to disable parental controls, moved their conversations to Discord, and demanded explicit photos under threats of exposure.

In April 2024, after years of manipulation and abuse, Ethan died by suicide. He was just 15.

Now, his mother, Rebecca Dallas, is suing Roblox and Discord. The lawsuit claims the companies’ lack of safeguards and failure to verify users created the perfect environment for predators to target children.

What Parents Need to Know

The lawsuit describes a disturbing pattern:

• Predators posing as children: Ethan thought he was talking to a peer named “Nate.” In reality, police believe it was a 37-year-old man with a history of exploiting kids.

• Weak parental controls: Roblox allowed Ethan to turn off safety settings without his parents’ knowledge.

• Unsafe communication platforms: Discord let him create an account and talk to adults without meaningful age checks or oversight.

• Coercion and threats: The predator escalated conversations into sexual exploitation, threatening to expose Ethan if he did not comply.

This wasn’t an isolated case. According to the Times, more than 20 lawsuits have already been filed against Roblox for enabling sexual exploitation. Florida’s and Louisiana’s attorneys general have also launched investigations, calling Roblox “the perfect place for pedophiles” without stricter moderation.

Why Roblox and Discord Are Facing Lawsuits

The Dallas family’s lawsuit accuses Roblox and Discord of:

• Wrongful death

• Fraudulent concealment

• Negligent misrepresentation

• Strict liability

Their argument is simple: if these companies had stronger protections — such as real age verification, screening of users, or stricter parental control enforcement — Ethan may never have been targeted.

The complaint also highlights how Roblox markets itself as safe for kids while making it easy for predators to bypass protections. Discord, widely used by gamers, has similar flaws — anyone can create an account without proving their age.

The Bigger Picture: Gaming and Online Safety

Ethan’s case is heartbreaking. But it also raises broader concerns for parents:

• Roblox has 111 million daily users. Many are children under 13, often unsupervised.

• Discord is widely used for voice and video chat, but has little real oversight.

• Other platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and even YouTube have faced lawsuits for enabling predators or failing to protect children.

Parents are often reassured by “parental controls” or app safety promises. But these systems can be turned off, ignored, or bypassed. And once a child is targeted, threats and manipulation can make it nearly impossible for them to reach out for help.

What Parents Can Do

While lawsuits against Roblox and Discord may change industry practices, parents cannot wait for legal battles to finish. Steps to take now:

1. Talk to your children regularly about who they meet online and what they’re being asked to do.

2. Check devices and accounts — don’t rely solely on app-based parental controls.

3. Warn about predators posing as kids, even if your child thinks they’re “just gaming.”

4. Encourage openness — let kids know they won’t be punished for sharing something uncomfortable.

5. Report and document suspicious activity to the platforms and to law enforcement.

KBD Attorneys and Online Safety

At KBD Attorneys, we are deeply concerned about the growing number of lawsuits involving Roblox, Discord, and other platforms. Online exploitation is not a distant problem — it could happen to any child, in any family.

We have written about other dangers linked to Roblox. These include:

Louisiana Attorney General Sues Roblox

Roblox and Discord: Risk to Children

Indiana Family Sues Roblox After Their Child Was Groomed

Roblox and Online Safety  

Why Roblox May be Dangerous for Kids and Families

Unmasking the Dangers of Roblox: A Growing Concern Over Child Exploitation

Together, these cases show a clear pattern: tech companies too often put profit over child safety.

We also have a page dedicated to harmful social media platforms and practices.

Families deserve better. And when corporations fail, legal action is sometimes the only way to hold them accountable.

Final Word

Ethan’s story is tragic, but it shines a necessary light on the dangers children face in online spaces marketed as safe. Parents should not have to worry that a simple game could become a predator’s hunting ground.

As more lawsuits move forward, Roblox, Discord, and other companies may finally be forced to make real changes. Until then, vigilance, open communication, and legal advocacy are critical.

If your family has been affected by online exploitation tied to Roblox, Discord, or another platform, you are not alone. KBD Attorneys is here to help. Contact us today for a confidential consultation.