Isn't there some rule that minors can't sign any legally binding contracts on their own behalf?
this post was submitted on 21 Aug 2026
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You as an adult technically can't sign away certain things and ToS that try to enforce that are invalid. Can you fight it though? Can you afford to fight it?
I wonder what would happen if tens of thousands of parents brought them to small claims for the maximum amount.
Some lawyers would argue that it should be a class action and get some judge to agree. Most of the families would sign on to the suit because they cannot afford lawyers nor the time off of work to pursue the case. Then the company would settle the class action suit for a pittance and each family would get $1.17.
Sepatate cases can actually be worse for the company. Especially with arbitration. Many arbitration clauses actually require the company to pay for arbitration as the consideration for including the clause.
And just showing up to court is expensive.
Was it the same lawyer that argued using a free trial of Disney plus meant they couldn't sue disney for anything ever? Same ghoulish vibes
That case was also a wrongful death lawsuit. Corporations will try it until it sticks I guess.
Another scum company.
After reading this article I looked up what arbitration is in the US judiciary system and as a guy not from the USA I was quite surprised that a clause in a contract/agreement can basically strip you from your basic right to defend your rights in court. I wouldn't want to criticize an institute of another country, but let's say that was unexpected.
Yes, and since it has been working so well (for corporations) for so long, such clauses are appearing everywhere now.
It's pretty fucked up
Yikes... she took her own life? There was definitely much more going on than a video game
Yes, there was almost certainly more going on. This poor girl was as likely as not a victim of this person or another member of the organization he belonged to. They make a sadistic sport of torturing people online, usually young girls.
According to prosecutors, Spitze claimed online to have "groomed" more than 2,600 victims in the United States and overseas. Prosecutors said two of his victims ultimately took their own lives, believing "they would never be rid of his evil."
While anyone can be targeted, members of 764 and similar online networks often target underage females, first befriending them and then using threats, blackmail, and other forms of manipulation to extort then into sharing or live-streaming acts of pornography, self-harm, animal torture, and even suicide, according to authorities.
Recordings of such so-called "content" is then used to further extort victims and is often shared widely online to boost the perpetrator's status within 764-related communities, authorities say.
Probably, but there's no guarantee. She wouldn't be the first teen to kill themselves over something that seems inconsequential to adults.
~~In what world is an 8 year old a “teen”?~~
Edit: I’m an idiot.
I don't think anybody is making that argument. The 13 year old in the article was 8 when she agreed to Roblox's terms
It all comes back to whether an 8 year old can legally sign anything.
Roblox is a gaming platform with significant social features. The lawsuit's claim seems to be that the parental controls and moderation should have prevented the child from joining a group dedicated to glorifying school shooters and interacting with the presumably horrible people there.
Yeah... I read the article too.
It is not unheard of for twisted individuals to goad vulnerable individuals, specifically kids/teens, into killing themselves. I don't have any specific links but in the USA I'm pretty sure I've recently read about young men being charged for doing this exact same thing, convincing young girls to kill themselves.
I'm not a lawyer nor do I know the details of this exact case but if it is a similar situation and the parental controls provided weren't capable of alerting the parents or didn't stop the communications I can see the parents wining maybe.