Roblox is tightening its safety rules with mandatory facial age verification for anyone who wants to use chat, alongside new age-based chat controls that keep conversations within appropriate age ranges. The rollout starts now and becomes a global requirement in January.
What’s changing
– Age verification becomes mandatory for access to chat features.
– Chat will be age-based, limiting interactions to users in the same or similar age groups.
– A new Safety Center will offer parents and caregivers guidance, tools, and Parental Controls.
When it’s happening
– Starting now: Users can voluntarily verify their age to keep access to chat.
– Early December: Enforcement begins in select markets, including Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.
– January: Age verification will be required worldwide for chat access.
How verification works
– Users complete a facial verification by opening their camera and following on-screen prompts.
– Roblox says it deletes all images and videos after the age check is processed.
– The verification is handled by third-party provider Persona, which Roblox says also deletes any captured media once the process is complete.
Age-based chat groups
Once verified, users are placed into one of six age bands:
– Under 9
– 9 to 12
– 13 to 15
– 16 to 17
– 18 to 20
– 21+
Players can chat within their group and with closely aligned age groups where appropriate. For example, a user estimated to be 12 will be placed in the 9–12 group and can chat with users aged 15 and under. Users aged 16 or older will not be able to chat with them.
Why Roblox is doing this
The company faces mounting scrutiny and multiple lawsuits, including actions by the attorneys general of Texas and Louisiana, over allegations that young users have been exposed to risks such as grooming and explicit content. Roblox says facial age verification offers a more accurate safeguard than relying on self-reported birthdates and is a first-of-its-kind policy in gaming, social, and messaging platforms that require explicit age estimation before granting access to communication features.
Tools for families
Alongside the policy changes, Roblox is launching a Safety Center designed to help parents and caregivers understand the platform’s protections, configure Parental Controls, and make informed decisions about their children’s interactions online.
The bottom line
If you want to chat on Roblox, you’ll need to complete facial age verification. Conversations will be limited to suitable age groups to help reduce contact between minors and adults they don’t know. Parents can turn to the new Safety Center for clear guidance and control over how their kids use the platform.
