Roblox introduces new safeguards for teens, including age estimation tech

Roblox has unveiled a series of new protective measures aimed at users aged 13 to 18, announced on Thursday. Among these initiatives is the introduction of "Trusted Connections," which enables teens to engage more openly with acquaintances they know. This update also includes advanced age estimation technology, enhanced privacy settings, and tools designed for parents of teenage users. The gaming platform has faced scrutiny over its child safety protocols, particularly after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a subpoena in April due to reports of minors being exposed to inappropriate content and predatory communication. In response to these concerns, Roblox's latest features appear to be a strategic move to satisfy both regulators and worried parents. This teen-oriented update follows the implementation of safety measures for users under 13 last year. Notably, Roblox is rebranding its "Friends" feature to "Connections" and launching the new "Trusted Connections" to facilitate more unrestricted communication among teens with trusted contacts. "Users identified by our system as 13 and older will have access to more expressive chat capabilities when communicating with their Trusted Connections," explained Ryan Ebanks, a senior product manager at Roblox, during a press briefing. This added freedom is intended to discourage teens from taking conversations off the platform, where they might face increased risks. Roblox has emphasized that interactions between Trusted Connections will be actively monitored for serious threats, such as grooming. Additionally, parents will be able to see which users their teens have designated as Trusted Connections. To utilize Trusted Connections, users must verify their age through the platform's new age estimation feature, which requires them to submit a selfie video; only those estimated to be 13 or older will gain access. If the system cannot confidently confirm a user's age, they will remain unverified. Users who do not meet the age criteria can still confirm their age through ID verification. For teens aged 13 to 17 whose ages are verified, they can mutually add each other as Trusted Connections. Moreover, unfiltered communication between adults and teens is prohibited unless a real-life relationship is confirmed through a QR code. Roblox is also applying age estimation technology throughout its platform to ensure that users can access content and features suitable for their age. In terms of privacy, teens now have the option to control who can see their online status, with settings available for just their Connections, followers, no one, or everyone on Roblox. They can also configure a timeframe during which they won’t receive push notifications from the platform. In a bid to empower parents, Roblox has rolled out a suite of tools that allows them to monitor their child's activity on the platform. Parents can now track who their teen is connected to, the amount of time spent on Roblox, and which games are played. Additionally, they can opt to receive notifications for specific transactions made by their teen on Roblox. "We understand that parents lead busy lives, so we’ve designed these tools to provide quick insights that can easily fit into their schedules," stated Dina Lamdany, a senior product manager at Roblox.