Wis. (WSAW) – Child safety experts are warning parents that online predators are using popular gaming platforms like Roblox and Discord to target children
A group known as the 764 Network — described by experts as a nihilistic violent extremism organization — is accused of using those platforms to gain children’s trust, then using manipulation, threats and humiliation to obtain sexual images, force self-harm and push victims into more extreme and dangerous behavior.
Experts say predators often target children first on Roblox before moving conversations to platforms like Discord, where they can message children without parental knowledge.
Jamie Powers, an attorney at Dolman Law Group in Florida representing hundreds of families affected by the network, said the platform structure makes it easier for predators to operate.
“There’s these private servers that make it easier for perpetrators to talk to children without maybe their parents being involved,” Powers said. “There’s different servers, different ways that you can have these explicit conversations that aren’t as accessible to parents as, you know, let’s say like regular text messaging or e-mail.”
Attorneys general from various states have filed lawsuits against Roblox and Discord, describing them as a “two-stage predatory pipeline.”
The issue has local ties.
Bradyn Bohn, a 15-year-old from Weston, died by suicide last year after being sextorted online. Since his death, his family and state lawmakers have enacted new laws to protect children online.
In October 2025, an Outagamie County woman filed a lawsuit against the Roblox Corporation. The Wisconsin woman claimed the gaming app allowed predators to sexually exploit her 5-year-old daughter.
Dolman Law Group filed the complaint on behalf of the family.
Experts say parents should talk to their children about the dangers of online platforms and what to do if they encounter a predator. They also advise watching for warning signs, including excessive time spent online.
Powers said secretive behavior is also a red flag.
“So if it’s excessive, if they’re being secret about it, like if they are locking themselves up in their rooms, or even if you notice that they are sneaking around and using friends’ computers or friends’ phones to log in or message other people,” Powers said.
If a child has received an inappropriate message or a parent suspects their child may be communicating with an online predator, experts say to contact law enforcement immediately.
On June 16, Roblox launched two new age-based account tiers, each with its own default safety settings. “Roblox Kids” is for users ages 5 to 8, with chat turned off by default. “Roblox Select” is for children ages 9 to 15, with chat features only enabled if parents give permission.
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