• cybirdman@lemmy.ca
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    5 months ago

    The company was recently sued for creating a platform using almost exclusively child labor

    The problem is while their target audience is kids, it is heavily monetized and created a market and economy around child created content. It is also impossible to moderate and became a cesspool of predators.

    The game itself is comprised of an infinite number of mini games you can try, most of them created by children. Some of them are of a sexual nature and not safe for kids. This makes it really easy for a predator to set up environments where they can groom children.

    The players can buy robux with real money and spend this to advertise the games they create, or buy customization items or game passes. They also earn robux when people play their games to incentivize them to create more content. Because of this the company is being sued for essentially child labor, where all their profits revolve around child created games

    When I was younger I would also play modded games and create content. I dont think there’s anything wrong with that. But the fact that the game monetized it to such an extent is wrong in my opinion. With the predator problem as well it makes it a really unsafe playform for children. As a parent I would never let my children play this.

    • octopus_ink@slrpnk.net
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      5 months ago

      Thank you very much! I mentioned it to my oldest son (who is now in his twenties) a couple years ago because my youngest son (who is autistic) seemed like he might be interested in the game. He very emphatically said it wasn’t really what it looked like and that he would not recommend it. I didn’t ask for more details, but I guess I get it!

        • octopus_ink@slrpnk.net
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          5 months ago

          Jesus. How is this thing still a thing? (I guess that’s also part of the answer to my prior question…)

          • skulblaka@sh.itjust.works
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            5 months ago

            A complete lack of all moderation, an owner / management team who studiously ignores all the child abuse on their platform because it is profitable to them to ignore it, and a legislative and judicial system that is unwilling to prosecute businesses for anything in general and child abuse in particular.

            It’s a perfect microcosm of the American condition, really.

          • Zeoic@lemmy.world
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            5 months ago

            It is also the most popular game ever created, unfortunately. Just one of the user created games on it tops the list for daily active players of any game ever…

        • k0e3@lemmy.ca
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          5 months ago

          How did we go from “Mortal Kombat bad!!!” to “white-supremacist pedophiles are good for business,” in 30 years? I hate this fucking world so much.