PARIS: The publisher of “Roblox” has pledged to introduce age verification measures amid concerns over the platform’s safety for its predominantly young user base.
In a blog post, Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s Head of Safety, announced that the company will expand age estimation to all users who access on-platform communication features by the end of the year.
To enhance protections, Roblox will use a combination of age estimation, official ID checks, and parental consent to implement new systems aimed at restricting communication between adults and minors—unless they know each other in real life, Kaufman said.
Roblox attracts around 100 million daily users, with children under 13 making up approximately 40% of its user base in 2024, according to the company.
However, the platform has faced growing criticism in recent years over its failure to adequately protect young users.
In August, the U.S. state of Louisiana filed a lawsuit, accusing Roblox of enabling child exploitation and the distribution of child sexual abuse material.
Additionally, in 2023, activist investment firm Hindenburg Research accused Roblox of inflating its user numbers and failing to take sufficient measures to protect children from online predators.
While Roblox dismissed the allegations, it has announced multiple steps in recent months to enhance parental controls and better label user-created content.
Roblox operates a vast online platform known for its distinctive, toylike graphics, where users can design and share their own mini-games—offering experiences that range from driving and sports to live concerts and shooting games.
The company’s move to introduce age controls comes as governments worldwide ramp up efforts to enforce stricter online age restrictions.
In the UK, websites, social media platforms, and video-sharing services are now required to implement robust age verification under London’s Online Safety Act. Meanwhile, France and other EU nations are preparing to test new age-verification tools for adult content in the coming months.
