Roblox Begins Global Rollout of Mandatory Selfie-Based Age Verification for Chat Features

The company said Roblox has started a global rollout of mandatory age checks for users who want to access chat features on its platform. This is now a requirement, which was tested in select areas in early December and has spread to all markets where chat can be available. A user in the U.S. and other areas will be able to see in-app prompts asking users to complete an age check, with the rollout expected to end within the next week after which the company added on its new app adds that it would like them to fill out an older check (along with their initial approval).

Roblox Now Requires Age Verification for All Users Globally

According to a blog post, the company added that “chat is now required age verification for use of chat (although it remains optional in general gameplay), but has not been removed from conversation.” It is the first large online gaming site to require facial age checks for users of all ages before it allows chat to be available, Roblox said. The system allocates users to age-based chat groups and is designed to limit communication between adults and children under 16 years of age.

Tens of millions of daily active users have already completed an age check, Roblox said. Over half of daily active users have completed the process, with over half having to chat since early December in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands where age checks are required.

According to the company, it is based mostly on facial age-estimation by using a video selfie taken through ‘a device camera’ that has been used in the age check system. Third-party vendor Persona handles the process. During the check, Roblox said images and videos that were used during the scan are deleted immediately after safe processing; they do not store by either Robux or the vendor. The use of government-issued identification instead of facial estimation allows users aged 13 and older to verify their age.

Roblox assigns verified users to age-based chat groups
Photo Credit: Roblox

Once verified, users are placed into one of six age groups for chat. Under 9 to 21 and more, these groups are a sub-9 or 21 . By default, users can only chat with others in their own age group and the groups directly above or below it. For example, users between 9 and 12 can chat with those under 9 or 13 to 15, but not with adults. Under 9 if the parent consents after age verification, chat is disabled by default for children under 9, but it was explained that the company explained how to use chat.

Roblox, who said the system supports age-based chat to encourage older conversations and reduce the risk of inappropriate contact. The site’s trusted connection with the platform allows verified users who know each other outside of the network to chat across age groups, allowing users aged 13 and older to communicate more widely. The firm also said it’s developing tools that will make it easier for children to talk with parents and siblings who may be of different age groups.

A larger safety framework, the company said that age-check requirement was one layer in a “broader” safety system. The chat for image sharing is not supported in Roblox, and uses automated systems to block attempts to share personal information between users who are not trusted connections. It also uses automated filters to detect and remove content that violates its community standards, and provides users with reporting tools. But Roblox said it continues to encourage parents “to talk about safety with their children online and use available parental control tools.”

Roblox said the facial age estimation technology has been tested by independent third-party laboratories, which have also analyzed it. Under the United Kingdom’s Age Check Certification Scheme, testing allegedly made an average absolute mistake about 1 in its tests, the company said. 4 years for users under 18 – .

In addition, the gaming platform said it has developed appeal and correction mechanisms in its system “for cases where age estimates may be inaccurate” (as cited above). s may appeal results through customer support, verify their age using other methods or use parental controls to update a child’s age.

Once the age verification is complete, user behaviour will also be monitored. When activity suggests that someone may be significantly older or younger than their age group, Roblox said it will “requisite” the user to reappear for the same person’s age-check process. In a voluntary phase, Roblox said it was “in-app promptings to explain how age-based chat is being used before making age checks mandatory.”

Roblox, a spokesperson for the company, said it plans to add age-check requirements to more features as they look ahead with its new policy. The creators will have to complete age checks in order to use real-time collaboration tools in Roblox Studio, and the company plans to update its community policies in the coming months. Roblox said ‘As for chat, age groups may differ from those applied to other products and features.