New Delhi: Roblox became one of the first major gaming platforms to tie communications functionality to verified age and requires every Indian to be older than 18 to use chat access. The relocation is a larger part of an international effort to ensure more online interaction security, particularly on the part of younger gamers, and lessen the chances of improper adult-underage contact.
The company said the system uses facial age estimation through a quick in-app scan, with all images deleted immediately after processing. While the age check is optional, users who skip it will not be able to use chat. Roblox has already tested the system in markets such as Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands, where more than half of daily users have completed the process.
How Roblox’s age check works
The age check is completed through the Roblox app using a phone or tablet camera. The system estimates a user’s age within seconds, after which the image is processed by Roblox’s partner, Persona, and then erased. Users who are 13 or older can also choose to verify their age using a government-issued ID instead of facial scanning.
If the system gets a user’s age wrong, Roblox offers appeals and alternative verification methods. Parents can also update their child’s age using parental controls. Roblox will continue monitoring behaviour over time and may ask users to repeat the check if something does not match their stated age.
New age groups define who can chat
After verification, users are placed into one of six age bands: under 9, 9–12, 13–15, 16–17, 18–20, and 21+. By default, users can only chat with people in their own group or those just above or below it. This is designed to limit wide age gaps in conversations and reduce the chance of misuse.
For children under nine, chat remains switched off unless a parent gives consent after an age check. Roblox said these limits will help keep younger players in safer, more controlled communication spaces.
Privacy and safety at the core
Roblox stressed that the age-check system is built with privacy in mind. No photos or videos are stored, and all data is deleted once the age estimate is completed. The company says this approach allows it to improve safety without collecting long-term biometric data.
“Our commitment to safety is rooted in delivering the highest level of protection for our users,” said Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s Chief Safety Officer. “By building proactive, age-based barriers, we can help people connect in ways that are safe and appropriate.”
Parents and carers can track their child’s age-check status through Roblox’s parental control dashboard. They can also change birthdays, manage chat permissions, and review safety settings. Roblox’s Safety Center provides guides to help families understand how these tools work.
The company says age verification for chat is just one part of a larger safety strategy. In the coming months, Roblox plans to extend age checks to other features, including real-time collaboration tools for creators and easier ways for children to communicate with family members across different age groups.
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