Roblox will require all users to perform age checks to access chat starting in January

Roblox is preparing a major overhaul of its communication system amid increasing legal scrutiny and safety concerns. Beginning in January, the platform will require every user worldwide to complete a mandatory facial age verification process before accessing chat features. Roblox is also rolling out age-based chat controls, ensuring users only communicate with others within appropriate age ranges.

Starting this week, users can voluntarily verify their age. In early December, Roblox will begin enforcing the requirement in select regions — including Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. By January, the age check will be mandatory for all users globally who want to access chat.

The shift comes amid rising pressure from lawsuits and investigations linked to child safety. Attorneys general in Texas and Louisiana recently filed lawsuits accusing Roblox of exposing minors to risks such as grooming and explicit content, following multiple reports highlighting safety gaps on the platform.

To complete the verification, users must open the Roblox app, grant camera access, and follow the guided steps for facial scanning. Roblox says that all images and videos used in the verification process will be deleted once the age check is complete. Persona, the third-party vendor handling verification, will also delete all user data after processing.

After verification, each user is assigned to one of six age groups: under 9, 9–12, 13–15, 16–17, 18–20, and 21+. Chat access is then restricted based on these categories. For example, a user determined to be 12 years old would fall into the 9–12 bracket and only be permitted to chat with others aged 15 and under. Anyone 16 or older would be restricted from communicating with them.

“We see these changes as a way to help ensure users are able to socialize with others in age groups that are appropriate, but also help limit contact between minors and adults that they do not know,” said Raj Bhatia, Roblox’s VP and head of user and discovery product.

Roblox argues that facial verification provides significantly greater age accuracy than relying on users to enter their birthdays manually. “We believe that this is something that is first for a company like Roblox in the gaming space and social media and messaging to require explicit age estimation before anybody has access to communication,” said Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s chief safety officer.

Alongside the new verification rules, Roblox is launching a redesigned Safety Centre targeted at parents and caregivers, offering guidance, safety tools, and improved parental control options.