Roblox Introduces Age Checks to Block Children from Chatting with Adults

Roblox, one of the world’s largest gaming platforms, is rolling out mandatory age verification to prevent children from communicating with adult strangers, enhancing child safety online.

Starting in December for Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, and globally from January, Roblox will require users to complete facial age verification before accessing chat features. Players will be grouped into age brackets—from under 9 to 21+—and will only be able to chat with others in similar age ranges unless added as a trusted connection. Children under 13 will remain restricted from private messages unless parental permission is granted.

Roblox has faced lawsuits and criticism over child safety concerns, with advocacy groups warning of the platform’s exposure to inappropriate content and adult contact. The NSPCC called the new measures a step forward but urged Roblox to implement practical safeguards to prevent exploitation.

The company claims its facial age estimation technology can accurately place users within a one- to two-year age range, covering ages 5–25. Images are processed externally and deleted immediately, while parents retain the ability to manage accounts and update verified ages.

Matt Kaufman, Roblox Chief Safety Officer, said the system will create safer, age-appropriate interactions, setting a benchmark for child protection across the gaming industry. Meanwhile, advocacy groups including ParentsTogether Action and UltraViolet have staged a virtual protest inside Roblox, delivering a petition signed by over 12,000 people demanding stronger safety measures.