Roblox Age Verification for Chat - New Rules in January

Roblox to Mandate Facial Verification and Age-Based Chat

In response to recent legal challenges and investigations concerning its child safety protocols, Roblox is implementing mandatory facial verification for all users seeking access to communication features. This policy will be enacted globally starting in January.

Voluntary Age Verification and Phased Rollout

Beginning Tuesday, users have the option to voluntarily verify their age to maintain access to communication functionalities. A phased enforcement of this age-check requirement will commence in early December, initially targeting Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. Full global implementation is scheduled for January.

Lawsuits Prompting Enhanced Safety Measures

This decision follows multiple lawsuits filed against Roblox, including actions brought by the attorneys general of both Texas and Louisiana. These legal proceedings stemmed from reports indicating that the platform potentially exposed younger users to harmful risks, such as predatory behavior and inappropriate content.

The Age Verification Process

The age-check procedure requires users to activate their device's camera within the Roblox application and adhere to a sequence of on-screen prompts for facial verification. Roblox assures users that any images or videos captured during this process will be promptly deleted following completion.

A third-party vendor, Persona, is responsible for processing the verification and will also delete all associated images and videos upon completion, according to Roblox’s statements.

Age Group Assignments

Upon successful completion of the age check, users will be categorized into one of six age groups: under 9, 9 to 12, 13 to 15, 16 to 17, 18 to 20, and 21 plus.

Age-Appropriate Chat Restrictions

Roblox explained during a media briefing on Monday that users will be able to interact with others within their assigned age group and adjacent, appropriate age ranges.

For instance, a user estimated to be 12 years old will be placed in the 9 to 12 age bracket. This user will then be permitted to chat with individuals aged 15 and under, while communication with users 16 or older will be restricted.

Company Statement on User Safety

“These changes are viewed as a crucial step in ensuring users can socialize with peers in suitable age groups, while simultaneously minimizing contact between minors and unfamiliar adults,” stated Raj Bhatia, Roblox’s VP and head of user and discovery product, during the briefing.

Improved Age Verification Accuracy

The company asserts that the new age-check requirement will offer a more reliable method of age verification than the current practice of simply requesting a user’s birth year during account creation.

Industry-Leading Safety Initiative

“We are confident that this represents a pioneering effort for a company like Roblox within the gaming and social media landscape, mandating explicit age estimation before granting access to communication features,” commented Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s chief safety officer, during the briefing.

New Safety Center for Parents

Roblox is also launching a new Safety Center designed to provide parents and caregivers with resources, guidance, and tools, including options for establishing parental controls.