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Feb 12, 2026By Tanvi Munjal
If your child is one of the millions who spend hours building virtual worlds on Roblox, some major changes are coming, and they're exactly what parents have been asking for.
Roblox just announced a mandatory facial age verification to access chat features, with strict limits on who can message whom. For parents who've watched their kids navigate this massive platform (with over 80 million daily users), this news should bring some serious relief.
What Exactly Is Changing?
Starting in early December in some countries and rolling out globally by January 2026, all users wanting to use chat on Roblox must verify their age through either facial recognition technology or ID verification. This isn't optional; no age check means no chat access.
On top of that, once kids verify their age, they're placed into age groups and can only chat with people in similar age ranges. For instance, a 12-year-old can't receive messages from an 18-year-old stranger. An adult can't initiate contact with a middle schooler they don't know.
The age groups break down like this: under 9, ages 9-12, 13-15, 16-17, 18-20, and 21 and older. Kids under 9 will have chat turned off by default in games unless parents specifically give permission after completing their own age verification.
The Most Important Change: Kids Under 13 Can't Direct Message Anymore
Chat outside of game experiences remains restricted for users under 13. What does this mean in plain English? Your 10-year-old can still chat while playing a game with friends in their age group, but they can't send or receive direct private messages on the platform.
This directly addresses one of the biggest safety concerns parents have had: the ability for strangers to slide into kids' DMs and start conversations away from the more monitored game environments.
How the Technology Actually Works
Roblox is using something called Facial Age Estimation, powered by a company called Persona. When kids (or adults) want to unlock chat features, they'll use their device's camera to take a video selfie. The system asks them to turn their head in different directions to make sure it's a real person, not just a photo.
The AI analyzes facial features to estimate age within a year or two. Then, the images and videos are deleted immediately after processing. Roblox isn't keeping a database of kids' faces sitting around somewhere.
If the estimate seems off, kids 13 and up can verify with a government ID. Parents who have their accounts linked to their child's can also correct the age through parental controls.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
Roblox has faced intense scrutiny lately, with lawsuits filed by multiple state attorneys general over child safety concerns, including allegations of grooming and abuse. Florida's attorney general even launched a criminal investigation into the platform.
These aren't just headlines; they're real risks that have affected real families. Some families have sued the company after their children were allegedly groomed through the platform.
The new system tackles this head-on by creating what experts are calling age-appropriate boundaries. A 35-year-old can't randomly start chatting with a 10-year-old anymore. Full stop. Unless they're verified "Trusted Connections," family members who both complete verification and connect through a special process, adults and young kids can't communicate.
What This Means for Your Family
- For younger kids (under 9): Chat in games is off unless parents turn it on. This gives parents complete control over when their youngest players can start interacting with others.
- For tweens (9-12): They can chat while playing games with others their age, but no private messages. They can talk with other players who are 15 or younger, but anyone 16 or older is blocked from messaging them.
- For teens (13+): They get more freedom but still within age boundaries. A 14-year-old can chat with peers up to age 15, while a 17-year-old has access to chats with users 16 and older.
- For families: Parents can add younger children as Trusted Connections so they can still play together. Roblox is also working on better tools for parents to directly message kids under 13.
The Bigger Picture: Multiple Layers of Protection
This age verification isn't happening in isolation. Roblox has been building what they call a multi-layered safety approach:
- All text and voice chats are monitored by AI, looking for harmful content
- Text filtering blocks inappropriate language and personal information, especially for kids under 13
- No image or video sharing in chats; a huge vulnerability on other platforms
- Social media links on profiles will require age verification starting early next year
- Over 145 safety features have been rolled out in recent months
Is It Perfect? Here's What Parents Should Know
No system is foolproof. The facial age estimation technology can sometimes place people in incorrect age groups. Some adults might get estimated as younger, and some kids might be placed in older groups. That's why the ID verification backup option exists for users 13 and up.
Parents will still need to stay involved. Check those Trusted Connections your kids add. Use the parental controls to see who your teen is connecting with. Keep having conversations about online safety—technology can help, but it doesn't replace parenting.
Note: Users who don't have an appropriate ID might struggle to correct their age if the system gets it wrong, which could limit access to features that are actually age-appropriate for them.
What Experts Are Saying
The response from child safety organizations has been largely positive. The CEO of the Future of Privacy Forum praised Roblox for implementing privacy-preserving age assurance that strengthens protections while respecting user rights.
The CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute called the approach a strong example of responsible innovation that uses proactive tools to build a safer digital world for kids and teens.
Importantly, Roblox is positioning this as something they hope becomes an industry standard. They're the first major gaming platform to require this level of age verification for chat, and they're openly encouraging other companies to follow suit.
Conclusion
After years of concerns about children's safety on gaming platforms, Roblox is taking meaningful action. Are these changes going to solve every problem? No. Will some kids find workarounds? Probably. But requiring age verification and blocking adults from messaging young children represents a massive step forward.
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