Roblox's Age Verification System Faces Severe Criticism

The much-anticipated rollout has resulted in chaos amidst users.

Roblox unveiled its facial recognition tool designed to estimate users’ ages to regulate chat features globally, after initially being tested in certain countries back in December. They assert that this measure aims to facilitate a secure environment for age-compatible interactions.

However, the backlash from players is intense as they find themselves unable to communicate with friends, prompting calls to revoke the update. Experts highlight a critical flaw: the AI is misclassifying users, deeming some children as adults and vice versa, while failing to curb the predator issue it aimed to handle.

Disturbingly, WIRED discovered online listings for age-verified accounts meant for children as young as nine, sold for a mere $4 on platforms like eBay.

Following WIRED's report, eBay's spokesperson, Maddy Martinez, confirmed the removal of such listings as they violated company policies.

In correspondence with WIRED, Roblox's chief safety officer, Matt Kaufman, explained that substantial platform changes affecting over 150 million daily users require time.

“Immediate perfection from a newly built system is unrealistic given the scale of the task,” Kaufman conveyed, while expressing satisfaction with the rate of user participation, noting that millions have successfully verified their ages, indicating the community's appreciation for safer interactions.

Addressing concerns over parents verifying their children's ages inaccurately, the company acknowledged this issue and assured users that solutions were being devised.

The age verification mandate, introduced last July along with a suite of features intended to enhance user security, has faced mounting scrutiny due to various lawsuits accusing the platform of negligence in child protection and enabling abusers.

Several states' attorneys general have also filed actions against Roblox, probing its potential role in facilitating predator access and exploitation of minors.

Roblox argues that mandating age verification will deter adult users from engaging with children they don’t know online.

Opt-out options exist, but refusing verification restricts users’ access to chat functions, which are essential for many.

Users are required to film a brief video using a device camera, processed by the company Persona to gauge age. Alternatively, individuals aged 13 and up may submit a government ID.

Though Roblox states that personal data is promptly erased post-processing, the privacy concerns deter numerous users from partaking in the verification.

Those who verify are restricted to chat within limited age brackets: users under 13 can communicate with counterparts aged up to 13; verified 16-year-olds can interact with the 13-20 age group.

The age verification framework was first introduced in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. However, after this global release, only a fraction of players had completed verification.

Mass dissatisfaction with the system has surfaced on forums and social media, with complaints regarding misidentified age brackets.

Numerous players have publicly shared their mismatched age experiences, with complaints about being incorrectly categorized into unintended age groups.

Some have ingeniously manipulated verification, using avatars or even celebrities' photos, like Kurt Cobain, to bypass the system.

Ry Terran, a specialist monitoring threats on Roblox, pointed out that erroneous age sorting poses widespread risks and complicates the moderation functions for parents and guardians.

Roblox announced intentions to re-evaluate users’ ages if fraud is suspected but withheld specifics on procedure or communication.

Discussions within Roblox’s official developer community highlight general disapproval, urging the company to reconsider the latest modifications while reporting drastic declines in chat activity.

Participants are voicing dissatisfaction with the altered chat dynamics, which some claim contradicts the platform’s intent of fostering open and joyful interaction.