Roblox is rolling out mandatory facial age verification for all chat features, becoming the first major gaming platform to require age checks before users can communicate.
The new system, according to the company, seeks to restrict conversations between adults and minors and encourage age-appropriate interactions among its 150 million daily users.
The rollout is happening in phases. Users can now complete the age estimation process voluntarily, while mandatory checks will begin in December in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. Full enforcement will extend worldwide in January 2026.
Age-Based Chat With Defined Age Groups
Once verified, Roblox assigns users to one of six age groups:
- Under 9
- 9–12
- 13–15
- 16–17
- 18–20
- 21+
Once a user completes an age check, Roblox reveals their assigned age range and restricts communication accordingly. Users can chat only with others in their bracket or in “similar age groups,” based on safety guidelines.
Roblox offered practical examples like the one below:
- Elisa (age estimated at 12):
Can chat with users 15 or younger. Anyone 16+ cannot initiate or respond to her in chat. - Marcus (age estimated to be 18):
Can chat with users 16 and older and may add younger siblings (13+) as a Trusted Connection, a feature designed for family members.
Children under 9 will have chat turned off by default, unless a parent explicitly enables it after completing the verification process. Chat outside of gameplay experiences remains restricted for users under 13.
How the Facial Age Check Works
Age checks use facial age estimation through the Roblox app as follows:
- Users receive an in-app verification prompt.
- They allow camera access.
- They follow on-screen instructions such as turning their head left and right.
Verification is handled by Roblox’s vendor, Persona, which deletes images immediately after processing. Users may also verify through ID, depending on local laws.
Roblox says the system is privacy-preserving and designed to meet global age-assurance standards. Parents can view linked child accounts and update birthdays after the verification process.
The stricter chat rules follow years of criticism over minors accessing inappropriate content and interacting with adults.
Roblox is currently being sued by three U.S. states over concerns related to minors encountering inappropriate content and interacting with adults. The company says it has added more than 145 safety features since January to improve protections for young users.
These include real-time AI monitoring for all text and voice chats, thousands of human moderators, limits on mature content and external links, stronger parental controls, and partnerships with law enforcement and over 20 global safety organizations.
The company has also introduced a new Safety Center with tools and guides to help parents better manage their children’s experience on the platform.
