Roblox, one of the world’s most widely used gaming platforms, is tightening its age verification procedures and introducing age-specific chat restrictions in response to mounting criticism over child safety and increasing regulatory pressure across the globe.
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The updated system relies on an age estimation tool provided by Persona, first announced in July. It requires users to submit a short video selfie to determine their age — a file which Roblox says is deleted once processed. The scan will only be compulsory for those wishing to use private messaging, and will not affect general access to the platform. Children under 13 will need explicit parental approval to use chat functions outside individual games. Unlike several other social platforms, Roblox does not encrypt private messages, allowing the company to monitor and moderate conversations.
While some experts have expressed concerns about the reliability of facial age-estimation technology, Roblox’s chief safety officer, Matt Kaufman, maintains that the tool can estimate ages between five and 25 within a margin of one to two years.
He explained: “There will always be individuals who fall outside the typical range. If someone disagrees with the system’s estimate, they can submit an ID or rely on parental consent to amend it.”
Once verified, users will be categorised into age groups: under nine, nine to 12, 13 to 15, 16 to 17, 18 to 20 and over 21. Users will then only be able to chat with those within or near their assigned bracket. The measures will be introduced first in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands during the first week of December, with a global rollout scheduled for early January.
Roblox’s changes mirror a wider shift in the tech industry, as companies such as Google and Instagram strengthen age-verification systems to address concerns around child protection and comply with tightening regulations.
The move also follows a series of lawsuits alleging that the platform has become a “playground for predators” — claims Roblox firmly rejects.
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“We operate stringent safety measures, from advanced AI systems to thousands of trained moderators working around the clock,” the company said in a statement. “No system is flawless, and our commitment to safety is ongoing. We’ve introduced 100 new safeguards this year alone, including facial age estimation.”
Roblox, which reports 111 million daily active users, says it enforces strict safety settings for younger players. Users under 13 cannot send private messages outside games unless parents change the default settings, and communication within games is also restricted. The platform uses extensive text-filtering tools to block inappropriate language, prevent attempts to lure younger users off-platform and stop the sharing of personal details such as phone numbers or home addresses. Image sharing between users is not permitted, and sexual content remains strictly banned.
