Key Takeaways
1. Mandatory Verification: All Roblox users must complete facial recognition or ID verification to use messaging features, aimed at protecting minors from adult communication.
2. Rollout Timeline: The enforcement of the verification system begins December 1, 2025, in select regions, with a global expansion planned for January 2026.
3. Facial Age Estimation: Users submit a video selfie to categorize themselves into age groups, affecting their communication abilities based on age.
4. Parent Approval for Younger Users: Users under 9 will have chat features disabled without parental consent, and those under 13 cannot send or receive private messages.
5. Criticism and Concerns: The verification system has faced backlash for miscategorizing users by age, raising concerns about the accuracy of the AI tools used.
In a new change to its safety measures, Roblox is now mandating that all users must complete facial recognition or ID verification to use messaging features on the site. This step is taken to stop minors from communicating with adults unless those adults are confirmed as trusted contacts.
Rollout Timeline
The verification system began its voluntary phase on November 18, 2025. However, starting December 1 in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, the new system will be enforced. By January 2026, this safety measure will expand globally.
Roblox stated in its official blog:
Users can now voluntarily participate in the Facial Age Estimation process to gain access to messaging features. In the first week of December, we will start enforcing age check requirements in specific regions, including Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. This will be extended to other parts of the world where chat is available in early January.
How It Works
The facial age estimation system requires users to take a short video selfie with their webcam or front-facing camera. A third-party vendor, Persona, then processes this video to categorize users into one of six age groups: under 9, 9–12, 13–15, 18–20, or 21+.
Once categorized, users can only communicate with others in their age group. Those under 9 will have their chatting features disabled unless their parents give consent. Additionally, users younger than 13 will not be allowed to send or receive private messages.
Roblox does enable trusted connections, which have to be approved by parents or guardians, allowing younger users to chat with siblings or pre-approved friends.
Background of the Change
This system was introduced following increased scrutiny from various state Attorney Generals in the US, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who claimed that the platform was allowing predators to exploit it. Roblox frames this initiative as a new standard for safety, asserting:
As the internet has grown, advancements in technology regarding safety and security have changed how the industry approaches age verification. Roblox is now taking additional steps. We’re providing chat and age-appropriate experiences for our users by mandating an age check through either Facial Age Estimation or ID verification.
However, the verification process has faced criticism, with some adults being mistakenly categorized as teenagers and teenagers as younger than 9. A 25-year-old developer even reported being placed in the 13+ group on a test account. Users on Reddit have mocked the platform for its reliance on AI tools and have raised concerns about their accuracy, highlighting the discrepancies that have emerged since the system was introduced.
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