Roblox has implemented a mandatory facial verification system for all users who wish to access chat features. This global rollout follows a wave of lawsuits and investigations concerning child safety on the platform. The company had previously tested the requirement in select markets.
To complete the age-check process, users must open the Roblox app, allow camera access, and follow on-screen instructions for facial verification. Roblox states that once the check is processed, it will delete any user images or videos. A third-party vendor named Persona handles the verification and also deletes the biometric data after completion.
Users aged 13 and older have the alternative option to verify their age through ID verification. While these age checks are optional for general platform use, they are mandatory for anyone wanting to access communication features like chat.
If the system incorrectly estimates a user’s age, they can appeal the decision. Alternative verification methods include submitting an ID or, for younger users, having a parent update the child’s age through parental controls.
Roblox explained that it continuously evaluates user behavior to detect discrepancies between a user’s stated age and their apparent age. In such cases, the platform will soon require users to repeat the age-check process.
Once verified, users gain access to age-based chat, which restricts communication to others in a similar age group. The platform uses six age categories: under 9, 9 to 12, 13 to 15, 16 to 17, 18 to 20, and 21 plus. Users can chat with people in their own group as well as the groups directly above and below theirs. For instance, a user aged 9 to 12 can chat with others in that range, plus those in the under 9 and 13 to 15 groups. Chat is disabled by default for children under 9 unless a parent provides consent after an age check.
This new policy arrives amid multiple lawsuits from state attorneys general, including those in Texas and Louisiana, which accuse Roblox of failing to protect young users. The lawsuits followed reports alleging the platform exposed children to risks like grooming and explicit content. Roblox has stated that the age-check requirement provides a more accurate method of age verification than the previous system, which relied solely on users entering their birth year upon account creation.