A Roblox creator was removed from the Roblox Developers Conference after running onto the stage during chief executive David Baszucki’s keynote to protest the platform’s approach to child safety.
Emathiio appeared shortly after Baszucki walked on stage, shouting that children “deserve better”. Security and two event staff members quickly brought him down and escorted him away. Video of the incident was shared on X.
Baszucki attempted to defuse the interruption with a light-hearted response: “Thank you so much for being here. We all get a little excited as RDC comes along, as you just saw.”
“Just got kicked out”
— Matt (Emathi), September 11, 2026
In a later video, Emathiio said he wanted to speak for children affected by decisions made on the platform, particularly those who do not have an opportunity to raise concerns at major events. He argued that many users oppose artificial intelligence, unwanted changes to avatars and faces, and insufficient child-safety measures.
“Everybody wants better child safety,” he said, while arguing that each year of slow progress leaves children exposed to harm. He also acknowledged that viewers could describe the stunt as clout chasing, saying he did not expect universal agreement or approval. His stated aim, he added, was not to cancel the conference but to voice a concern he believed many people had held for years.
Emathiio addressed his critics after being removed from the event.
Why Roblox child safety remains under scrutiny
The protest came as Roblox faces investigation by the U.S. Senate into its protections for minors and the steps it takes to prevent adults from using the platform to prey on or exploit children.
Roblox has introduced stricter parental controls and age-based account restrictions in response to concerns. However, lawsuits brought by parents and several U.S. states have kept child safety in the public conversation.
The company has also faced criticism over public interviews. In a 2025 appearance on The New York Times podcast Hard Fork, Baszucki was criticised as dismissive of some child-safety concerns and appeared to treat the possibility of gambling markets in Roblox seriously, describing the concept as “brilliant”.
Earlier in 2026, Roblox parent advocate Dr Elizabeth Milovidov spoke with Vulture and appeared to place greater emphasis on parents preventing their children from encountering predators on the platform.
A separate legal challenge
Roblox is also involved in a wrongful-death lawsuit concerning a 13-year-old platform user who later died by suicide. The company has sought to have the case sent to arbitration instead of proceeding to a full trial.
In its argument, Roblox cited the creation of the account, six acceptances of updated terms, two uses of Roblox gift cards and 19 purchases of the platform’s virtual currency. The dispute has raised broader questions about whether a platform’s terms of service should limit a family’s access to a full trial after a child’s death.
The incident at RDC 2026 is another reminder that platform governance, moderation and youth protection can become just as significant as new features and audience growth at major interactive-entertainment events. For more coverage of the wider games and amusement scene, explore RETROCADE’s arcade news and editorial coverage, arcade video collection and arcade machine buying guide.
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