Hidden Risks in Popular Child and Teen Apps: Guidance for Online Safety and Legal Awareness
📌 At a Glance
At Lawsuit Legal News, we are committed to helping parents understand the risks children face online and connecting families with legal guidance when necessary. Our review of recent reports, investigations, and lawsuits shows the following:
Roblox
- Filed 24,000+ child exploitation reports with NCMEC in 2024
- Described as “the perfect place for pedophiles” by the Louisiana Attorney General
Snapchat
- Linked to a nationwide increase in teen fentanyl overdoses, according to NBC News
- Facing lawsuits from state attorneys general, including New Mexico
- Algorithms push harmful content, including material related to eating disorders, self-harm, and explicit content
- Target of 1,700+ lawsuits alleging youth addiction and mental health harms
Discord
- Banned 530,000+ accounts in a single quarter for child exploitation violations
- Sued by the State of New Jersey in 2025 for failing to protect minors
Our Position:
We have observed firsthand that default safety tools often fail to protect children. Parents must take proactive steps, from monitoring activity to restricting features, to reduce exposure to predators, harmful content, and illegal substances online.
We are seeing a dramatic rise in reports of children and teens encountering predators, harmful content, and unsafe interactions on popular apps. From lawsuits to state investigations, it is clear that many platforms are not adequately protecting minors.
These threats are real. We see predators exploiting app features, content delivered in ways that harm children by design, and moderation failures across platforms. We urge parents to take an active, hands-on role in monitoring their children’s online activity and protecting them from digital harm.
Here are the apps we track most closely, with key statistics and protective measures parents can implement.
“These dangers aren’t abstract. We’re seeing predators exploit platform features, harmful content delivered by design, and widespread failures in moderation. Parents must understand these risks and take proactive steps; default safety tools are not enough.”
— Matt Dolman
Roblox: Grooming and Exploitation Risks
Key Statistics:
- 24,000+ child exploitation reports filed with NCMEC in 2024.
- Labeled “the perfect place for pedophiles” by the Louisiana Attorney General.
Our Perspective:
We know Roblox is widely popular with children, but it has exposed minors to sexual content, predatory chats, and manipulation through in-game currency, leading to multiple Roblox lawsuits. Scammers frequently use “free Robux” schemes and private messaging to groom children. Families must understand these risks and take active steps to protect their kids.
Protective Steps We Recommend:
- Restrict chat features to pre-approved friends only.
- Monitor playtime and in-game purchases.
- Enable parental controls to block mature content and inappropriate interactions.
Snapchat: Disappearing Messages and Teen Drug Risks
Key Statistics:
- Linked to a rise in teen fentanyl overdoses, according to NBC News.
- Facing lawsuits from state attorneys general, including New Mexico.
Our Perspective:
We see how Snapchat’s disappearing messages and Snap Map features allow predators and drug dealers to reach teens. National investigations reveal that fentanyl traffickers use the app to target minors, creating dangerous situations. Default safety settings are insufficient for protecting children.
Protective Steps We Recommend:
- Disable Snap Map and location-sharing features.
- Limit messaging to approved friends only.
- Educate teens that screenshots preserve “disappearing” content.
Instagram: Algorithmic Promotion of Harmful Content
Key Statistics:
- Ranked among the top platforms for harmful content exposure by Bark reports.
- Subject of 1,700+ lawsuits related to youth addiction and mental health impacts.
Our Perspective:
We are concerned about Instagram’s algorithm, which can funnel teens toward harmful material, including content promoting eating disorders, self-harm, and sexual activity. Endless-scroll feeds encourage prolonged screen time, potentially exacerbating mental health issues.
Protective Steps We Recommend:
- Keep profiles private with manual follower approval.
- Disable Explore and Reels recommendations.
- Enforce daily screen-time limits for teens.
Discord: Unmoderated Servers and Online Exploitation
Key Statistics:
- 530,000+ accounts banned in a single quarter for child exploitation violations.
- Sued by the State of New Jersey in 2025 for failing to protect minors.
Our Perspective:
We know Discord’s open servers and private chats make it easy for predators to engage minors in unmoderated environments. Reports identify Discord among the top platforms for bullying, suicidal ideation, and body-image issues. Legal actions confirm what we’ve seen: children remain at risk without vigilant monitoring.
Protective Steps We Recommend:
- Enable maximum privacy and safety settings.
- Restrict server participation to verified, moderated groups.
- Regularly review friends lists and memberships.
Our Takeaway for Parents
We emphasize that platform safety tools alone are not enough. Parents must take an active, hands-on role in supervising children’s online activity. Steps like monitoring chats, restricting features, and limiting screen time are among the most effective ways we’ve found to reduce exposure to predators, drugs, and harmful content.
At Lawsuit Legal News, our goal is to inform, educate, and connect families with legal guidance when platforms fail to protect children. By staying informed and taking proactive measures, parents can safeguard their children and seek accountability where necessary.