Roblox, one of the world’s largest online gaming platforms, announced that it will require users to verify their age using facial recognition technology before accessing chat features. The new safety measure aims to prevent communication between children and adults on the platform, addressing ongoing concerns about child safety and online exploitation.
How Roblox’s Age Verification Will Work
Roblox users will be asked to take a selfie, which the platform will use to estimate their age. Based on this estimate, users will be assigned to specific age groups, such as 9–12 or 13–15. Chat functions will then be restricted to communication within the assigned age group only.
Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s Head of Safety, emphasized the importance of setting an industry standard:
“Policymakers struggle with a lot of companies who say ‘that’s just too hard. We couldn’t do it.’ Roblox is trying to set an example of what others can follow.”
This initiative is designed to provide enhanced protection for minors while still allowing age-appropriate social interaction on the platform.
Global Rollout and Legal Context
The age verification system will first be introduced in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands in December 2025. It will then expand to other countries starting in January 2026.
Australia recently passed a law prohibiting users under 16 from creating social media accounts, though Roblox is currently exempt from this legislation. The company’s new safety feature reflects a broader commitment to compliance with global child protection regulations.
In the U.S., Roblox is facing lawsuits from attorneys general in Texas, Kentucky, and Louisiana, as well as from private plaintiffs, over alleged failures to protect children from predators and sexual exploitation on its platform.
Popularity and Importance of Child Safety on Roblox
Roblox remains one of the most popular destinations for children online, with an average of 151.5 million daily active users in the third quarter of 2025, according to the company’s October filing. The platform hosts millions of games created by users and provides social features that allow children to interact and collaborate with peers worldwide.
By implementing facial recognition-based age verification, Roblox aims to enhance user safety, build trust with parents, and address regulatory scrutiny, setting a new benchmark for child protection in online gaming.
Implications for the Online Gaming Industry
Roblox’s initiative highlights growing efforts across the gaming and social media industries to protect minors from online harm. Facial recognition and age-verification technologies are increasingly seen as essential tools for platforms with significant child audiences, particularly in the face of stricter government regulations and rising public concern about digital child safety.
Experts suggest that Roblox’s approach may influence other platforms to adopt similar age verification measures, creating a safer online environment for children globally.
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