Roblox Requires Facial Age Verification: Here's What Changes For Chat

Roblox (RBLX) is rolling out a groundbreaking safety initiative that will require all users wanting to access chat features to complete facial age verification—a first for major gaming platforms. Starting December in select regions and expanding globally in January, the policy marks a significant shift in how online gaming platforms approach child safety.

How The Verification Process Works

Users must choose between two verification methods: facial age estimation through their device camera or traditional ID verification. Roblox partnered with verification provider Persona to handle the process, with all images deleted immediately after scanning. No biometric data is stored permanently. Once verified, your account gets assigned to an age bracket, and this assignment determines which users you can communicate with on the platform.

The Age Group System Explained

Roblox has structured verification into six age categories:

• Under 9 years old
• 9 to 12 years old
• 13 to 15 years old
• 16 to 17 years old
• 18 to 20 years old
• 21 and above

By default, players under 9 have chat disabled unless a parent explicitly enables it. Users under 13 cannot access chat outside of individual experiences. Only verified users over 13 can add “Trusted Connections”—allowing them to message people they know outside their age group.

Broader Safety Framework Integration

This verification requirement extends beyond casual chat. Early 2025 will see mandatory age checks to access social media links on profiles and experience pages. The initiative ties into Roblox’s larger safety ecosystem, which already includes monitored text and voice chat, aggressive content filtering for younger players, link restrictions, and reporting tools.

The company also plans to extend verification to creator collaboration features in Roblox Studio next year. These cumulative steps build on over 145 safety updates deployed throughout the year—a comprehensive approach the company hopes will set an industry standard.

Market Response

Trading on Tuesday showed investor confidence in the safety-first direction. RBLX closed at $101.73, reflecting a 0.45% gain, before slipping slightly to $101.67 in after-hours trading, down 0.05% on the NYSE. The verification rollout represents Roblox’s biggest policy shift in user protection, signaling the platform’s commitment to competing on safety as much as gameplay innovation.