In a unfolding controversy that has sparked widespread debate on child safety in online gaming, Roblox Corporation’s Chief Safety Officer, Matthew Kaufman, sold over $800,000 worth of company stock shortly after the platform issued a cease-and-desist order to a prominent YouTuber known for exposing child predators.
A screenshot from the Roblox trailer – YouTube, Roblox
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The timing has raised questions among users and advocates, as the company faces criticism for prioritizing its image over proactive child protection measures.
Background on the Vigilante Effort
Michael, a 22-year-old creator who operates under the YouTube and X handle @RealSchlep, has built a following by posing as minors on Roblox to catch and expose individuals attempting to groom children.
His efforts have led to tangible safety results, including the arrest of six predators within the Roblox community over the past year.
In a video titled “Roblox Is Threatening to Sue Me For Protecting Kids,” posted on August 9, 2025, Schlep detailed his work, stating, “Within the last year, me and my team have gotten six predators arrested within the Roblox community.” He emphasized that nearly all those arrested admitted to prior offenses against other Roblox users.
Schlep’s motivation stems from personal trauma. He revealed in the video that he was groomed on Roblox as a child by a popular developer, who “manipulated me… and frequently exposed me to gore and not safe for work material and loads of other stuff that a kid should never see.”
This experience nearly led him to take drastic self harm actions, and when his mother contacted Roblox for help, the company dismissed her concerns. Despite this, Schlep continued using the platform, eventually channeling his experiences into advocacy.
Hey @TedCruz, I live in Texas. Could I have a 5 minute conversation with you about Roblox?
I’ve gotten 6 predators across the country arrested from it, yet they sent ME a cease & desist. I was groomed on Roblox as kid by a child predator.
There’s been lawsuits in Texas right… pic.twitter.com/nWUFO6m23Z
— Schlep (@RealSchlep) August 10, 2025
“I was groomed on Roblox as kid by a child predator,” he posted in a plea to Senator Ted Cruz on X, highlighting his commitment to preventing similar incidents and improving Roblox safety.
His team has collaborated with law enforcement, reporting cases to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and appearing on local news to demonstrate evidence of predatory behavior.
A screenshot from the Roblox trailer – YouTube, Roblox
One notable case involved tipping off police about a 21-year-old attempting to lure a 13-year-old, resulting in an arrest.
The Cease-and-Desist and Ban
On August 9, 2025, Roblox sent Schlep a cease-and-desist letter, accusing him of violating platform policies by engaging in “simulated child endangerment conversations,” sharing personally identifiable information, and directing users off-platform.
A screenshot from the Roblox trailer – YouTube, Roblox
The letter, shared publicly, stated that his actions “are exposing our users to increased risk” and warned of account closures, prohibiting him from creating new ones to evade enforcement. Roblox further claimed that vigilante efforts like Schlep’s “increase the risk of more users being exposed to bad actors.”
In response, Schlep refuted the claims, explaining in his video that his methods adhere to standard predator-catching protocols where “predators are supposed to be the ones talking sexually to you.”
He expressed frustration over Roblox’s inaction on reports.
Every account I’ve ever made on Roblox has been terminated, and Roblox sent a cease and desist letter to me.
Not a single Roblox predator I’ve gotten arrested has faced any action similar to this. I have no words. pic.twitter.com/12dc5mW29j
— Schlep (@RealSchlep) August 9, 2025
Since then, all of Schlep’s Roblox accounts, some dating back to when he was 8 years old, have been terminated. “Every account I’ve ever made on Roblox has been terminated, and Roblox sent a cease and desist letter to me,” he posted on X.
Roblox’s Official Stance on Vigilante Groups and Child Safety
Roblox has defended its actions in a blog post titled “How Roblox Partners With Law Enforcement,” published on August 6, 2025.
The company acknowledges that vigilante groups may have “the public’s interest at heart” but argues their methods are harmful.
A screenshot from the Roblox trailer – YouTube, Roblox
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“Actions taken by vigilante groups increase the risk of more users being exposed to bad actors and can delay enforcement efforts by both Roblox and law enforcement,” the post states.
Roblox emphasizes that “law enforcement professionals are best positioned to investigate potential crimes” and urges users to report violations through official channels, such as NCMEC’s CyberTip tool or Roblox’s Trusted Flagger program.
The company highlighted its proactive measures.
“As part of our proactive moderation systems, we leverage advanced detection and rapid response protocols to report possible illicit activity, violent threats, or other real-life harms to law enforcement,” the post said. “We are focused on relentless innovation, and our work on safety is never done.”
A screenshot from the Roblox trailer – YouTube, Roblox
Roblox partners with the FBI and NCMEC to escalate threats and improve safety, but critics point out that with over 70 million daily users and only about 3,000 moderators, the platform struggles to keep up.
This stance comes amid ongoing lawsuits alleging Roblox fails to protect minors from predators. A July 2024 Bloomberg investigation noted that the platform has become a “hunting ground” for predators, where they shift conversations off-platform to evade detection.
The Stock Sale and Timing
Just days after the cease-and-desist and amid growing calls for Kaufman’s resignation, the Chief Safety Officer sold 6,000 shares of Roblox Class A Common Stock on August 7, 2025, at $133.67 per share, totaling $802,020.
The transaction was filed with the SEC under a pre-adopted Rule 10b5-1 trading plan from November 2024, leaving Kaufman with 301,223 shares.
Well this is certainly something…. https://t.co/hmQsonLKQu
— Smash JT (@SmashJT) August 11, 2025
While such sales are routine for executives, the timing—coinciding with the controversy—has fueled speculation. A Change.org petition calling for Kaufman’s resignation, citing his role in the blog post and handling of safety issues, has gained traction.
Public Reaction and Broader Implications
The events have ignited outrage online. On Reddit, users criticized Roblox for seemingly protecting predators over victims.
Prominent Roblox creators like KreekCraft have spoken out, with videos titled “Roblox Banned Schlep” amassing hundreds of thousands of views. Safety advocates argue that banning vigilantes like Schlep could deter reporting and worsen the predator problem.
Schlep has called for broader awareness, urging in his video, “The most important thing we can all collectively do right now is share what is going on with Roblox. Tell your parents, tell your congressman, tell a journalist.”
He has no plans to return to the platform but intends to continue his advocacy elsewhere.
Roblox is super bad for kids. Get your kids out of Roblox now! https://t.co/FPe1TH13Cl
— Grummz (@Grummz) August 11, 2025
As Roblox navigates these safety challenges, the incident shines a light on the tension between user-led initiatives and corporate control in ensuring online safety for children.
The company has not issued further comments on the stock sale or specific allegations beyond its blog post.
How do you feel about the safety measures used by Roblox? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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