Roblox tightens child age verification with AI

Roblox tightens age verification

Roblox - the world's largest open gaming platform - has just announced plans to expand its age verification process.

The new system will combine facial age estimation technology, ID verification and parental consent, said Matt Kaufman, Roblox's Chief Safety Officer. This approach is said to be more accurate than players entering their age when creating an account.

Founded in 2004 by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel, Roblox has become a pioneer in the trend of user-generated content. With Roblox Studio, anyone can design and publish games and earn Robux for their creations.

Not only a place for entertainment, Roblox is also highly appreciated by parents and teachers for its ability to practice programming skills, creative thinking and digital technology knowledge. By 2024, this platform will reach more than 380 million global users, with a market capitalization of about 35 - 40 billion USD.

Over 100 security updates by 2025

User safety is Roblox's top priority in 2025. The company has rolled out more than 100 updates focused on child protection, including Roblox Sentinel, an open-source AI tool that detects harmful behavior and early signs of risk.

These measures are intended to build trust with parents, regulators, and the community, and reinforce Roblox's image as a safe place for kids to play.

Controversy over children and monetization

Despite its rapid improvements, Roblox has faced criticism. About 35-40% of its users are under 13, prompting parents to worry about the risk of children interacting with strangers, buying items with real money and playing games with inappropriate content.

Additionally, some of Roblox’s most popular games have been accused of having gambling-like mechanics. For example, “Please Donate,” where players wait for others to give them Robux, has been accused of creating a psychological spiral similar to gambling. Or “Adopt Me!”, a game that encourages players to buy mysterious eggs to hatch pets, has been compared to the “gacha” system in mobile games.

Roblox affirms efforts to protect the community

Roblox claims that its platform is far superior to many of its competitors in terms of censorship. This includes monitoring all text messages; not allowing direct image transfers between users; players under 13 are limited to private chat and voice chat; there are filters that block inappropriate content in public chat; and families can adjust default settings through parental controls.

Roblox's adoption of AI and tighter moderation is seen as a big step forward, but it's unlikely to erase all concerns. The company also admits that no system is perfect and can't completely eliminate harmful content.