Roblox Implements Age Verification for In-Game Communication

A Move Towards Enhanced Safety for Younger Players

The acclaimed online gaming hub, Roblox Corporation, has declared a new policy requirement for users who want to use in-game chat. This development, affecting all regions where chat is accessible, is a response to mounting advocacy for better protection of young players and legal actions initiated by several state attorneys general, including those from Louisiana and Texas.

New Measures Begin January 7

From January 7 onwards, both domestic and international users of Roblox must complete age verification. Those aged 13 and above have the choice of submitting identification documents. Previously experimented with in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, these measures saw half of daily users completing the verification process there. Facial age estimation is facilitated by a third-party company, Persona, which discards image data following the verification.

Age-Specific Chat Restrictions

Upon successful age verification, users are categorized into one of six distinct age groups, ranging from those under 9 to over 21. Interaction through chat is largely restricted to members of one's age group and the adjacent groups. However, users aged 13 or older can utilize Roblox's 'Trusted Connections' feature for broader communication. This feature enables chatting through phone-imported friends or QR code contacts, but both participants in a chat must have undergone age verification.

Parental Control and Re-Verification

For users below the age of 9, chat functionalities are disabled by default. Parents can approve activation after verifying the child's age. Roblox retains the right to re-evaluate age verification if user actions imply discrepancies in the reported age.

Historical Concerns and Actions

Roblox has faced persistent criticism for its child safety measures. In 2024, protections were enhanced by barring users under 13 from certain game content and restricting their direct messaging capabilities outside specific games. Actions against inappropriate user-generated content were taken last year, prompted by a lawsuit from Louisiana highlighting unsettling exposure risks for minors on the platform.