Roblox Enhances Age Verification for Messaging

Roblox has upgraded its age verification process for users wishing to send private messages to other players. The platform will now implement age-based chat features, restricting messaging to users of the same age group, whether they are kids, teens, or adults.

This decision comes amid increasing scrutiny and legal challenges faced by major gaming platforms regarding child safety, alongside the introduction of new age verification laws in various states and countries.

Earlier this year, in July, Roblox rolled out an age estimation tool developed by a company named Persona. Players must submit a video selfie, which will be used to assess their age. Roblox assures users that these videos will be deleted after the verification process. Importantly, facial scans are not required unless a user opts to engage in chat with others.

For safety, Roblox prohibits children under the age of 13 from chatting with other users outside of gameplay unless they have explicit parental permission. Unlike some other platforms, Roblox doesn’t encrypt private chat conversations, allowing parents to oversee and manage their child’s chats.

While some experts voice skepticism about the accuracy of facial age estimation technology, Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s chief safety officer, believes the system can effectively assess the age of individuals between 5 to 25 years, typically within a one- to two-year range.

“However, there will always be exceptions outside the standard curve. If someone disagrees with their estimated age, they can provide identification or parental consent to adjust it,” he explained.

Once verified, users are categorized into age groups: under 9, 9-12, 13-15, 16-17, 18-20, and 21+. They will be able to communicate with others in their own or similar age brackets, based on age and chat type.

Roblox has announced plans to start implementing age verification in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands during the first week of December, with further rollouts in additional regions set for early January.

There’s a trend among tech companies to adopt authentication systems, not just to comply with regulations but also to mitigate criticisms over inadequate child protection.

For instance, Google has recently begun testing a new age verification system for YouTube that utilizes AI to differentiate between minors and adults based on their viewing habits. Similarly, Instagram is piloting an AI tool aimed at detecting whether children are misrepresenting their ages.