Roblox will require all users to perform age checks to access chat starting in January

In response to ongoing lawsuits and scrutiny regarding child safety, Roblox is set to implement mandatory facial verification for users seeking to access its chat features, beginning in January. This initiative comes as part of a broader effort to enhance safety on the platform, particularly for its younger audience. Starting December, users will have the option to voluntarily verify their age, paving the way for a mandatory requirement that will be enforced in specific regions, including Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. By January, this age-check will extend to all users globally, creating a safer environment for communication. The decision follows legal actions from attorneys general in Texas and Louisiana, who have raised alarms about the potential risks posed to young users, including exposure to grooming and inappropriate content. To complete the age verification, users will need to download the Roblox app, enable camera access, and follow prompts for facial recognition. Roblox assures that all images and videos will be deleted post-verification, with the process handled by third-party vendor Persona. Upon successful age verification, users will be placed into one of six designated age groups: under 9, 9 to 12, 13 to 15, 16 to 17, 18 to 20, and 21 plus. This grouping will dictate who they can communicate with; for instance, a user identified as 12 will be able to interact with others aged 15 and younger, while those 16 or older will not have access to their chats. Raj Bhatia, Roblox's VP of user and discovery product, emphasized that these changes are intended to ensure age-appropriate social interactions while minimizing contact between minors and unfamiliar adults. The new verification system is described as a significant advancement for a platform like Roblox, which merges gaming with social media functionality. Additionally, Roblox is rolling out a new Safety Center aimed at equipping parents and caregivers with essential tools and resources, including the ability to set Parental Controls, further enhancing safety measures for younger users on the platform.