‘Please be aware of what your child does online’: Supriya Menon warns parents of Roblox

Film producer and wife of actor Prithviraj, Supriya Menon, has urged parents to stay vigilant about their children’s online activity, sharing a cautionary message via Instagram. Her post featured a photo of Ethan Dallas, a 15-year-old boy from San Diego in California, whose tragic story has become a stark reminder of the dangers lurking on child-focused platforms.

Who was Ethan Dallas, and why is this a warning against Roblox?

Ethan, who was diagnosed with autism, died by suicide in April 2024. Supriya’s post asked, “How many of your children play Roblox? Please know what your child is doing online!”—a plea directed at parents unaware of the risks associated with popular gaming platforms. 

How Roblox became a gateway for grooming

Ethan had been playing Roblox since the age of seven. Over time, he befriended a player named “Nate” and began spending long hours chatting and gaming with him. Nate taught Ethan how to disable parental controls, and their conversations gradually turned sexual. Eventually, they moved to Discord, where Nate demanded explicit photos and threatened to leak their chats if Ethan refused.

Behavioural changes and mental health decline

Ethan’s behaviour began to shift—he became irritable, aggressive and emotionally unstable. By 2022, his condition had deteriorated to the point where his parents had to admit him to a residential treatment centre for nearly a year.

The confession and tragic end

Eventually, Ethan confided in his mother, Beck Dallas, about Nate. Four months later, Ethan died by suicide. It was only after his death that investigators revealed Nate’s true identity: Timothy O’Connor, a 37-year-old man who had been arrested in a separate case involving child pornography and sending harmful content to minors.

How the truth came out

Beck Dallas had reported Ethan’s situation to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, which worked with law enforcement to uncover O’Connor’s identity. The revelation shocked Ethan’s family, who had believed Roblox to be a safe, child-friendly platform.

Legal action against Roblox and Discord

On Friday, Beck Dallas filed a lawsuit against Roblox and Discord, holding them responsible for her son’s death. She highlighted that the platforms are marketed to children under 13, yet allow adults to interact freely with minors through private chats and voice features.

Why Roblox’s safety measures are under scrutiny

Roblox is a metaverse-style game with over 40 million users—more than one-third of whom are under 13. While anyone can create a free account and play, experts warn that the platform’s communication features can be exploited by predators. The lack of robust age verification and safety protocols allegedly enabled Ethan’s interaction with O’Connor.

What Beck Dallas says in her complaint

Beck argues that if Roblox and Discord had implemented proper safeguards, Ethan would never have come into contact with the predator, nor suffered the trauma that led to his death. Reports suggest that multiple similar cases are currently pending against both platforms.