Topline
Roblox said Tuesday it will roll out an age verification process using facial recognition technology to block minors from chatting with adults, a new safety feature that comes weeks after the popular gaming platform was sued by a third state alleging it is a haven for predators.
Roblox will roll out the age verification process by January. (Photo Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Key Facts
All users must complete the facial recognition verification to access chat by early January, though a voluntary rollout period begins Tuesday, Roblox said in an announcement.
Age checks will happen on the Roblox app using the camera on a user’s device, and any pictures or video taken during the verification process will be immediately deleted after processing, the gaming company says.
Roblox said users will be placed in the following age groups: Under 9, 9-12, 13-15, 16-17, 18-20, or 21+, and will be able to chat with others in their assigned group and “similar age groups, as appropriate.”
Chat for users under nine years old will be turned off by default while playing in user-created “experiences,” unless parents give consent after an age check, and outside of these experiences, chat for users under 13 is restricted.
Roblox highlighted other safety features in its announcement, stating it filters chat for users under 13 to block inappropriate and personal information, prohibits image and video sharing and will soon require age checks to access social media links on user profiles.
Big Number
151.5 million. That’s how many daily active users Roblox said it had during the third quarter of 2025, a 70% spike from the year prior. Roblox did not say in its latest quarterly report how many users are under 13, but in a July report, it said 36% of its user base is under 13.