Roblox Age Estimation & Standardized Ratings

Roblox Enhances Safety Measures Amidst Legal Challenges

Facing ongoing legal action concerning child safety, Roblox announced on Wednesday an expansion of its age-estimation technology to encompass all users. Furthermore, the company is collaborating with the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) to implement standardized age and content ratings for experiences available on its platform.

Age Estimation and Verification

By the end of the current year, the age-estimation system will be universally deployed to Roblox users accessing communication features, including voice and text chat. This system functions by analyzing facial features from user-submitted selfies to determine an estimated age.

Roblox asserts that this technology, when combined with ID verification and parental consent protocols, delivers a more reliable age assessment. This represents an improvement over the current method of relying on self-reported birthdates during account creation.

The company is also developing additional systems designed to restrict communication between adult users and minors on the platform, bolstering existing safety protocols.

Standardized Content Ratings

The partnership with IARC will result in Roblox adopting globally recognized content and maturity ratings in place of its own labeling system.

Users in the United States will see ratings provided by the ESRB, while individuals in other regions will receive ratings from their respective national authorities. For example, players in South Korea will view GRAC ratings, those in Germany will see USK ratings, and players in Europe and the United Kingdom will utilize PEGI ratings.

This initiative aims to equip parents with a clearer understanding of the content within games their children are playing, considering potentially sensitive elements such as violence, gore, mature language, gambling, and substance use.

Previous Safety Initiatives

These updates build upon safety enhancements announced in July, focused on protecting younger users.

Roblox previously introduced an age-verification system utilizing video selfies to assess user age. This information is used to restrict access to certain features, like unfiltered voice and text chat, for users under the age of 13.

Additionally, Roblox prevents users aged 13 to 17 from adding others to their “trusted connections” without verifying a real-life relationship through contact imports or QR code scans.

Evolving Legal Landscape

This move also aligns with a growing trend of stricter laws and regulations worldwide mandating age verification on social platforms. Examples include the U.K.’s Online Safety Act and Mississippi’s age-assurance law, which prompted Bluesky to cease service within the state.

Similar legislation is currently under consideration in states including Arizona, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Virginia.

Ongoing Safety Investments

Roblox has consistently invested in safety tools over time.

Roblox Sentinel, an open-source AI system, is among these tools, designed to identify early indicators of potential child endangerment. The platform also provides parental controls, communication restrictions, and technology to detect and remove servers violating its policies.

Persistent Concerns and Challenges

Despite these efforts, reports indicate that child predators continue to access the platform and target children, as detailed in complaints filed by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and in lawsuits across California, Texas, and Pennsylvania.

Recent research, reported by The Guardian, suggests that children on Roblox can still encounter inappropriate content and interact with malicious actors.

The farming simulator game, Grow a Garden, recently faced scrutiny when players began trading virtual items for real money on external marketplaces, violating platform rules and raising concerns about children being encouraged to spend money to remain competitive.

Looking Ahead

While these changes may not eliminate all risks, they are intended to provide parents with greater insight into the games their children are playing.

“Roblox is committed to creating a safe platform for our users and empowering parents to make the best decision for their children,” stated Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s chief safety officer. “We’re excited to partner with IARC and hope it will provide parents globally with more clarity and confidence regarding age-appropriate content.”