Roblox requires global age checks before chat access
Roblox rolled out mandatory age checks worldwide as a requirement for enabling chat and other communication features, following a series of legal and regulatory pressures tied to child safety.
The age check is required to unlock communication features, but it is not required to use Roblox in general. Users can still play without completing the process, while chat remains disabled until the age check is finished.
To complete the age check, users are prompted inside the Roblox app to allow camera access for a facial age estimation step. The images or video used for facial age estimation are deleted after processing. Roblox uses a third-party provider, Persona, for the facial age estimation process.
For users aged 13 and older, Roblox also supports an option to verify age using an official identity document instead of a facial scan. If the age estimate result is incorrect, an appeal path is available, including alternative verification methods and parental controls that allow a parent to update a child’s age.
Once age is set, Roblox enables age-based chat. Users are grouped by age, and chat is limited to people in the same band or the band directly above or below. The age groups include under 9, 9 to 12, 13 to 15, 16 to 17, 18 to 20, and 21 and older.
For users under 9, chat is off by default and requires parental consent to enable. Roblox’s support guidance also notes additional consent requirements for some younger users, depending on the type of chat being enabled.
The global rollout began after earlier testing in a limited set of markets and is intended to replace the older approach of users entering a birth year during sign-up.
