"We are working hard on this project": Chris Hansen confirms inquiry into child exploitation on Roblox following Schlep controversy

Official confirmation of an examination of child exploitation on the massively popular gaming platform Roblox was given by former correspondent Chris Hansen. The announcement came in the midst of a storm of controversy surrounding YouTuber and self-proclaimed predator-hunter Michael “Schlep.

”

Hansen Confirms Roblox Investigation

Hansen put out a video on his official X account describing how his streaming crime network, TruBlu, is "deep into" the investigation of exploitation within Roblox. "You may have heard that my streaming crime network, TruBlu, and I are investigating the exploitation of children on the popular gaming platform Roblox. Well, it's absolutely true, and we're deep into it," Hansen said. He noted that he has already interviewed law enforcement investigators and victims in relation to the matter.Hansen further added and said that Schlep will collaborate in this project; "We have some collaborators, some people who have been working in this space, including Schlep, who committed to help us in this endeavor."

Who Is Schlep?

Schlep, a Texas-based gamer and YouTuber, is 22 years old and has garnered an audience of 850,000 subscribers with videos allegedly exposing child predators on Roblox. His viral Roblox Predator Gets Arrested video, with millions of views, shows him with the police, as he posed as a young user in order to bait an adult predator to a police sting.

According to Schlep, six arrests have been made through his efforts. However, these vigilante tactics have angered Roblox itself. Over the weekend, he revealed a cease-and-desist notice from Roblox, as they suspended his accounts for alleged violations, including "engaging in simulated child endangerment conversations" and "directing users off-platform."

Roblox Community Divided

The decision of the platform was being debated violently.

Supporters rallied behind Schlep and initiated in-game protests using the hashtag of “Free Schlep.” Screenshots of hundreds of avatars standing in solidarity on X went viral Wednesday night. In response to the ban, Schlep announced that he had obtained legal representation to fight Roblox’s actions. He also dredged up allegations that, as a teenager, he was groomed on Roblox by another user and that the company was slow to act on his mother’s complaints. Now with Hansen aligned with Schlep, the pressure on Roblox further builds. Hansen wants to see accountability. “Will Roblox actually say anything about it? Will it make any changes? We're going to do our best to hold them accountable. Stay tuned, we are working hard on this project.”