Roblox has begun rolling out mandatory facial verification globally for users who want to access chat features on its platform, following a wave of lawsuits and investigations over child safety. The move comes after the company tested the age verification system in a few markets last month and decided to expand it worldwide as part of efforts to strengthen safeguards for younger users.
Under the new process, users must open the Roblox app, grant camera access, and follow on screen instructions to complete a facial age check. Roblox says any images or videos captured during the process are deleted once verification is complete. The company added that the verification is handled by a third party vendor, Persona, which also deletes user data after processing. Users aged 13 and above may alternatively choose to verify their age through official identification rather than facial verification.
Roblox clarified that age verification is optional for general use of the platform but compulsory for access to communication features. Users who complete the process gain access to age based chat, which groups users into six age categories ranging from under nine to 21 and above, with communication limited to adjacent age groups. Chat remains disabled by default for children under nine unless parental consent is provided following an age check. Users who believe their age was incorrectly estimated can appeal and verify through other methods, including ID checks or parental controls.
The introduction of mandatory age checks follows multiple lawsuits, including actions by the attorneys general of Texas and Louisiana, over allegations that Roblox exposed children to risks such as grooming and explicit content. In a blog post, the company said it is continuously evaluating user behavior to detect age inconsistencies and may request repeat verification when necessary. Roblox maintains that the new system offers a more accurate approach to age verification than relying solely on self reported birth dates during account creation.