Roblox to Start Verifying Ages for All Users in Chat

Roblox has announced it will require age verification for all users who use chat features by year end using facial recognition, ID checks, and parental consent for safer communication.

Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman explained that these insights will allow Roblox to enforce new measures designed to block conversations between adults and minors who do not have a real world relationship. The system will grant access to communication features that match users with content appropriate for their age group.

This launch is part of Roblox’s broader focus on safety and civility within its ecosystem. Earlier in the year, the company introduced features like Trusted Connections, where users 13 and older can connect freely only with people they know in real life, and renamed Friends to Connections.

Critics and regulators have repeatedly questioned Roblox’s ability to shield young users from harmful interactions. The company has faced legal action, including a lawsuit from the state of Louisiana accusing the platform of enabling predatory activity, and failing to protect children effectively.

Roblox’s approach seeks to address these concerns by relying on a more secure age verification protocol. Facial estimation uses a video or selfie to analyze a user’s age range, placing them in categories such as under 13, 13 and older, or 18 and older. If the system cannot determine age with confidence, the user must submit a government issued ID or obtain verified parental approval.

Beyond just verification, Roblox plans to use age data to shape user experience and restrict access to features that may be inappropriate for younger users.

Adults and minors who do not know each other in person, will be prevented from directly messaging or chatting unless they have passed the real world connection check through mechanisms like QR scan or contact import.