Roblox has announced one of the most significant safety changes in its history. The platform will soon require facial age verification for users who want to access chat features. This policy will become mandatory worldwide by January 2026.
The move follows growing legal pressure and public criticism over how the platform has handled child safety. With millions of daily users, many of them under 18, Roblox is now stepping away from self-reported age systems and moving toward biometric verification.
This decision marks a major shift for social gaming platforms and sends a clear message. Age checks based on honesty alone are no longer enough.
Why Roblox Is Making This Change Now
The timing of this update is not accidental.
Roblox is currently facing lawsuits filed by the Attorneys General of Texas and Louisiana. These cases stem from reports alleging that the platform exposed minors to explicit material and grooming behavior. The lawsuits argue that Roblox failed to provide adequate protection for children.
As scrutiny increased, so did the pressure to act.
Roblox executives have framed the update as a direct response to these concerns. The company is positioning facial age verification as a firm line between adult and minor users, especially when it comes to communication features.
In simple terms, Roblox is locking the chat door and asking users to prove their age before entering.
Roblox Leadership Calls It a First-of-Its-Kind Step
Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s Chief Safety Officer, described the policy as a first for a platform of its size.
He stated that Roblox is the first major gaming and social platform to require explicit age estimation before allowing access to messaging and chat features.
That distinction matters. Unlike optional tools or parental toggles, this system blocks chat access entirely unless verification is completed.
From a legal and safety standpoint, Roblox is making it clear that unverified users will not be allowed to socialize freely on the platform.
How Facial Age Verification Works
Facial scanning raises privacy concerns, especially when minors are involved. Roblox addressed this directly by outlining a tightly controlled process.
To verify their age, users must:
- Open the Roblox app on a mobile device
- Grant temporary access to the device’s camera
- Follow guided, on-screen instructions to complete the scan
The age estimation process is handled by Persona, a third-party identity verification company widely used across tech platforms.
Roblox states that neither it nor Persona stores facial images or videos after verification. Once the age estimate is completed, all captured data is permanently deleted.
The scan does not create a facial profile or biometric ID. It only confirms an age range. The process is also designed to be one-time, not recurring.
For parents worried about long-term biometric storage, this detail is central to Roblox’s privacy assurance.
New Age Groups Will Control Who Can Chat
Age verification exists for one reason. It powers Roblox’s new age-gated communication system.
Once verified, users are placed into one of six age categories:
- Under 9
- 9 to 12
- 13 to 15
- 16 to 17
- 18 to 20
- 21 and over
Chat access is limited to users within the same group or immediately adjacent age ranges.
For example, a user aged 9 to 12 will not be able to send or receive messages from users aged 16 or older. The system blocks both incoming and outgoing communication across those boundaries.
Raj Bhatia, Roblox’s Vice President of User and Discovery Product, explained that the goal is to allow social interaction while sharply limiting contact between minors and unknown adults.
This structure directly addresses the risks cited in ongoing legal complaints.
What This Means in Real Use
The restrictions are strict by design.
A verified 10-year-old cannot chat with a verified 17-year-old.
A verified 14-year-old cannot message a verified adult.
This removes a major pathway that bad actors have historically exploited on open social platforms.
The system does not rely on reporting tools after harm occurs. It prevents many risky interactions from happening in the first place.
From a safety standpoint, this is a preventive model, not a reactive one.
Global Rollout Timeline
Roblox is not flipping the switch all at once.
Voluntary age verification is already available. Mandatory enforcement begins in phases.
- Early December rollout: Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand
- January 2026: Mandatory facial verification required worldwide for chat access
Users who do not complete verification after enforcement begins will lose access to chat features. They can still play games, but communication will be locked.
This staged approach allows Roblox to monitor system performance and address issues before global enforcement.
New Tools for Parents and Caregivers
Roblox is also updating its Safety Center to support this shift.
The updated hub includes:
- Clear explanations of facial age verification
- Step-by-step parental control guides
- Tools for managing chat permissions and privacy settings
Roblox has acknowledged that technology alone does not solve child safety. The company is positioning parents and caregivers as active partners in the process.
This combination of strict age gating and improved education aims to reduce confusion while increasing trust.
A Turning Point for Social Gaming Platforms
This policy marks a major moment not just for Roblox, but for the wider gaming and social media industry.
Traditional age verification methods have proven unreliable. Roblox’s decision signals that platforms serving young audiences may soon face similar expectations from regulators.
While biometric verification is controversial, Roblox is betting that strong safeguards, limited data use, and transparent processes will outweigh the concerns.
At its core, this move reflects a hard truth. Protecting children online now requires stronger proof, firmer boundaries, and fewer assumptions.
Whether other platforms follow Roblox’s lead remains to be seen. But the standard has clearly shifted.
