- Roblox has introduced age-based Roblox Kids and Roblox Select accounts
- New accounts seek to limit communication features for specific age groups
- They also include improved parental controls and other measures.
Recent cases of new age verification and online age checks have sparked controversy in recent months, with concerns over privacy and potential data breaches, but a new development with Roblox is one that many people will likely get behind.
Roblox has announced the global launch of its new age-based Roblox Kids and Roblox Select accounts, restricting certain features for children. This also comes with improved parental controls, allowing parents to block or allow their children access to games.
Roblox Kids accounts (for kids ages 5 to 8) will feature the platform’s strongest default protections, with chat disabled and access to a catalog of games that have gone through Roblox’s “continuous selection process.”
As for Roblox Select accounts (for ages 9-15), chat settings will vary by age and region, with additional safety measures to protect users under 16. Additionally, Roblox highlights that these Kids and Select accounts will evolve as users age, with the account type changing to a standard one at age 16.
These are careful steps Roblox has taken to ensure the safety of children when playing or connecting with other users on the platform, specifically stating: “The launch builds on Roblox’s broader effort to create age-appropriate experiences for younger users.”
In particular, the move to force age verification globally for access to communication features has been controversial, particularly because the third-party provider used for face capture, Persona, was involved in a notable security incident earlier this year.
However, it can be argued that in this case, the controversy differs from that of Discord or other platforms, as Roblox is effectively a service aimed at children to offer fun and engaging online gaming experiences, while Discord acts as a communication platform, used mainly by teenagers and adults.
As for Roblox’s user base, 46% of its users are 17 years old or older, and the majority of 56% are under 17 years old, according to research from Takeaway Reality. If we go by that, then the push for age checks on the platform is arguably justified.
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