Gaming Platforms and Child Safety: Recognising Online Grooming Risks in 2025
Roblox, Fortnite, Minecraft, Discord — these are the spaces where UK children spend hours every week, and where offenders are increasingly active. This guide covers the specific risks, the warning signs, and what schools and parents must do under the Online Safety Act 2023.
Why Gaming Platforms Matter for Safeguarding
The Internet Watch Foundation reported a 32% increase in self-generated child sexual abuse material involving children aged 11–13 between 2022 and 2024 — and gaming platforms are frequently identified as the initial contact point.[1] Unlike social media, gaming platforms have historically had weaker moderation, age verification, and reporting infrastructure. Many allow private messaging, voice chat, and real-money gift transactions — all features that offenders exploit.
Ofcom's 2024 Children's Media Use report found that 76% of children aged 5–15 play online games regularly, and that children aged 8–12 are the most likely to report being contacted by strangers through gaming platforms.[2]
High-Risk Platforms and What Makes Them Vulnerable
Roblox (primary risk: ages 7–14)
Roblox allows user-generated games, private messages, and voice chat. Despite age-appropriate settings, enforcement is inconsistent. Children have reported being offered in-game currency (Robux) by unknown adults in exchange for personal information or images.
Discord (primary risk: ages 13–17)
Discord is designed for community servers but is widely used by children for peer gaming communication. Servers can be invite-only and unmoderated. Offenders create gaming-themed servers to attract young people and then move conversations to direct messages. Parents often don't know their child uses it.
Fortnite and in-game voice chat
Fortnite's built-in voice chat is enabled by default. During high-intensity gameplay, children may lower their guard with strangers who appear helpful or friendly. The competitive environment creates natural bonding opportunities that can be exploited.
Warning Signs for Parents and Schools
- Child becomes secretive about who they are talking to online, particularly about gaming "friends"
- Unexplained gifts — gaming vouchers, in-game items, or cash — from online contacts
- Child is excessively protective of their device during or after gaming sessions
- Distressed or upset after gaming sessions but unwilling to explain why
- Switching screen, closing app, or changing topic when an adult approaches
- A new online "best friend" or "boyfriend/girlfriend" who they've never met in person
School Obligations Under the Online Safety Act 2023 and KCSIE 2024
The Online Safety Act 2023 places direct obligations on platform providers — but schools have concurrent duties under KCSIE 2024:
- Schools must have an online safety policy that specifically addresses gaming platforms, not just social media
- DSLs must receive training on online grooming including gaming-specific grooming tactics (Section 4, KCSIE 2024)
- Any disclosure of contact by an unknown adult through a gaming platform meets the threshold for a MASH referral and must be reported to police
- Where CSAM has been found or shared via gaming platforms, report to the Internet Watch Foundation (iwf.org.uk) immediately, in addition to police and MASH
Report Online Grooming — Key Contacts
Citations
[1] Internet Watch Foundation (2024). IWF Annual Report 2024. iwf.org.uk.
[2] Ofcom (2024). Children's Media Use and Attitudes Report 2024. ofcom.org.uk.
[3] NSPCC (2024). Online Safety: Statistics and Research. NSPCC.
[4] Department for Education (2024). Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024. GOV.UK.
[5] HM Government (2023). Online Safety Act 2023. legislation.gov.uk.