Roblox is changing how people talk to each other on the platform, and it’s a significant shift. If you want to use chat on Roblox going forward, you now have to prove your age, and not just by typing in a birthday.
After months of lawsuits, investigations, and mounting pressure around child safety, Roblox has begun rolling out mandatory age verification for chat access globally. The company tested the system in a handful of countries late last year and is now expanding it worldwide.
How Roblox’s New Age Verification for Chat Works
When you try to use chat on Roblox, the app now prompts you to verify your age. To do this, you allow camera access and follow on-screen instructions for facial age estimation. Roblox says the images or videos used during this process are deleted once verification is complete.
The verification itself is handled by Persona, a third-party identity verification provider, which Roblox says also deletes user data after processing.
If you're 13 or older, you can choose to verify your age using a government-issued ID instead of facial scanning. If the system incorrectly estimates your age, Roblox says users can appeal and verify through alternative methods, including parental controls.
One important detail is that age verification is technically optional, but it becomes mandatory if you want to use chat. You can still play games without verifying your age, but all communication features remain locked until the process is completed.
How Chat Access Changes After Age Verification
Once your age is verified, Roblox places you into one of six age groups: under 9, 9 to 12, 13 to 15, 16 to 17, 18 to 20, and 21 and above.
Chat access is then limited based on these groups. Users can only communicate with people in their own age bracket, as well as the group immediately above or below them. For example, users aged 9 to 12 can chat with those under 9 and those aged 13 to 15, but not with older teens or adults.
For children under 9, chat remains disabled by default unless a parent provides consent after completing an age check.
Roblox also says it'll continue monitoring user behaviour and may require repeat age verification if someone appears significantly older or younger than their registered age.
Damilare Odedina
Why Roblox Is Making Age Verification Mandatory Now
This update comes amid intense scrutiny of Roblox’s safety practices. The platform has faced repeated reports of young users being exposed to grooming, explicit content, and other serious risks.
That scrutiny escalated into lawsuits from multiple U.S. state attorneys general, including Texas and Louisiana, accusing Roblox of failing to adequately protect children on the platform.
Roblox has acknowledged that relying on self-reported birthdays was not effective. The company says the new age verification system gives it a more accurate understanding of who is using the platform and who they are communicating with.
The Takeaway
Roblox isn't just tweaking a feature. It's rewriting how communication works in a platform used by millions of children and teenagers.
By tying chat access to verified age, Roblox is adding real guardrails around who can talk to whom, instead of relying on trust and typed-in birthdates. For players, this means more friction before chatting, but also a safer environment, especially for younger users.
For the gaming industry, the move signals a broader shift toward stronger identity checks, tighter safety controls, and far less tolerance for platforms that fail to protect minors. Whether users love the process or dislike it, one thing is clear: the era of simply typing your age and moving on is coming to an end.
Emmanuel Umahi
