‘My daughter, 14, was groomed after meeting man on Roblox’
My Daughter, 14, Was Groomed After Meeting Man on Roblox
A Mother’s Outcry Over Online Safety Failures
A parent from Greater Manchester has spoken out about the sexual grooming of her 14-year-old daughter by a man she met on Roblox, accusing the gaming platform of inadequate safeguards. The incident, which began in September 2024, involved Carlo Tritta, a 19-year-old from Eastleigh, Hampshire, who manipulated the teenager into believing they were in a romantic relationship.
Tritta, now 19, was sentenced to two years and four months in prison after admitting to creating child pornography, engaging in explicit conversations with a minor, and exposing her to sexual content. He also confessed to intimidating a witness and causing damage. The mother discovered the abuse when she found alarming messages on her daughter’s phone, prompting her to confront the situation.
“I said ‘Oh, who’s that?’ and she was crying, begging me not to look at her phone. I knew then it wasn’t just a harmless chat—it was something much worse,” the mother recounted.
Roblox, a global gaming platform with over 144 million daily active users, acknowledged the case in a statement, expressing concern and pledging to improve safety measures. The company requires age checks to limit communication to users of similar ages or known contacts, but the mother argues these systems are insufficient.
The abuse escalated as Tritta encouraged the girl to shift conversations to private messaging apps, where he claimed to love her and sent gifts. Over time, the messages grew increasingly explicit. “She was trapped in a situation where he controlled everything—her social media, her friends, even her daily routines,” the mother explained.
After Tritta broke his bail conditions and traveled 200 miles from Hampshire to her home, he damaged the doorbell camera and entered the house. During the visit, he discussed nightmares with the mother while she and her daughter were writing Christmas cards. Tritta also sent cards to the victim, urging her not to support the prosecution and reporting her family to authorities.
The mother emphasized the need for vigilance, warning other parents about the risks of children interacting with adults on platforms like Roblox. “It’s a kids’ game, but adults are using it to groom young users,” she said. “Social media platforms must do more to protect young children from predators.”
Roblox’s safety systems, designed to block harmful content and limit chat for younger users, were called into question. The mother’s daughter, once excited about her online interactions, became isolated and emotionally distressed, even contemplating suicide. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw what was on that phone,” she said, describing the shock of uncovering the abuse.
