Roblox bars kids from chatting with adults for safety
Mandatory age checks for chat features will begin in December for Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, and roll out globally in January.
The platform has faced criticism for allowing children to access inappropriate content and communicate with adults, and is facing lawsuits over child safety in several US states. The move also comes ahead of Australia’s social media ban for under-16s, which may include gaming platforms like Roblox.
Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki previously told a news outlet that parents "should not let their children be on [it]" if concerned. Child safety advocates, however, warn that young users remain exposed to risks. Rani Govender of the NSPCC said children face "unacceptable risks," and urged Roblox to ensure measures prevent adults from targeting or manipulating them.
The platform averaged over 80 million daily players in 2024, with about 40% under age 13. The UK’s Online Safety Act requires tech firms to protect children from online harms, with Ofcom enforcing compliance. Anna Lucas, Ofcom’s online safety supervision director, welcomed the new age checks, stating, "Platforms must now take steps to keep kids safe…there’s more to do, but change is happening."
Roblox will require facial age verification to access chat features, with chief safety officer Matt Kaufman saying the technology can estimate ages "within one to two years" for users aged five to 25. Currently, it is available voluntarily worldwide.
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