By Jemeana Smothers-Roberson Managing Editor, SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
The modern parent faces challenges that previous generations could only imagine. While we diligently lock our physical doors at night, we often leave digital gateways wide open right in the palms of our children’s hands. As Christians, we must recognize that the adversary roams not just our streets, but also the boundless plains of the internet, often disguised within innocent-looking spaces like the popular online platform Roblox.
The scripture is clear: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8, NKJV). We may see a colorful game, but a literal wolf may be using that pixelated playground to stalk your “little flock.” Of particular concern are extremist predatory networks identifying with numbers like 764 or 742. These groups are not just “trolls”; they are organized predators who use “sextortion” to coerce children into self-harm or sharing explicit images.
QUICK WARNING SIGNS
Hiding Screens: Quickly closing apps when you enter the room.
Moving Apps: Asking to talk on Discord, Telegram, or Snapchat.
Code Numbers: Seeing “764,” “742,” or “CVLT” in their profile.
Stranger Gifts: Receiving “Robux” or rare items from someone unknown.
“Pro” Mentors: An older player giving them special “training.”
Physical Marks: Unexplained scratches or “loyalty” marks on their skin.
Ignorance is no longer an excuse. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6, NKJV). Training in this age includes digital vigilance. Protect your children by disabling chat, maintaining a “living room rule,” and checking for these dangerous codes. Their safety is a sacred stewardship God has placed in our hands. Be the guardian who secures both their home and their screens.
Jemeana Smothers-Roberson, Managing Editor, urges parents to watch for signs of predatory groups such as “764” and to implement strong parental controls to ensure their children’s spiritual and physical safety.