After recovering from multiple lawsuits over child safety, Roblox is globally rolling out mandatory age verification for users who want to access chat and other communication features on the platform.
Age verification on Roblox, intended to improve age-based security controls, follows recent testing in some markets.
Part of the new system is that users must verify their age by allowing the Roblox app to access their device’s camera and complete a facial verification process guided by on-screen instructions.
All images and videos captured during verification are deleted once verification is complete. The verification process is handled by a third-party provider, Persona, which also deletes user data after processing, Roblox said.
While age verification is optional for the game in general, the company clarified that it is now mandatory to access chat and communication tools.
At what age does Roblox age verification apply to users?
Users 13 years and older can choose to verify their age using an official ID instead of face verification. If the system incorrectly estimates a user’s age, Roblox allows appeals through alternative verification methods, including ID checks or parental controls.
After successful verification, users can access age-based communication, and even that comes with limited interactions within similar age groups.
Roblox has divided users into six groups: under 9 years old, 9 to 12 years old, 13 to 15 years old, 16 to 17 years old, 18 to 20 years old, and 21 years old and older. That being said, how much you can chat on Roblox ultimately depends on your age.
Players can communicate with others in their own group and adjacent age groups. Chat would be disabled by default for children under nine years old, unless parental consent is offered after verification.
The company says the new method is more accurate in determining users’ ages than relying solely on self-reported birth dates during account creation.
