Roblox introduces mandatory age verification for chat

November 19, 2025 / 11:06 AM

Sharjah24 - AFP: Roblox Corp has announced that beginning next month, players will be required to complete facial recognition or ID verification to access the platform’s chat features. The move aims to prevent children under nine from chatting without parental approval and to limit interactions between adults and minors by sorting users into six age groups, from under nine to over 21.

Rollout timeline across regions

The compulsory verification system will be introduced in early December in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands, with global expansion set for early January. Roblox described itself as the first major gaming or communication platform to require facial age checks for chat access, calling it a likely new industry standard.

How the verification works

Users must take a facial photo or provide identification to confirm their age. While the checks are already available voluntarily, they will soon become mandatory for chat access. Facial age estimation will be handled by ID verification company Persona, which will process images within the Roblox app and delete them immediately afterward. Roblox, popular among young audiences, said players may still use the platform without age checks, but chat functions will remain locked.

Australia’s broader social media crackdown

The announcement coincides with Australia’s upcoming ban on under-16s accessing social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, which takes effect on December 10. Platforms that fail to detect or remove under-16 accounts could face fines of up to Aus$49.5 million (US$32 million).

Exemptions and enforcement challenges

Roblox, along with Discord, WhatsApp and Lego Play, has been exempted from the new Australian law, though authorities retain the right to enforce compliance if necessary. Despite the ban being one of the world’s strictest on paper, experts question its effectiveness due to challenges in verifying users’ ages online. Tech firms have criticised the legislation as vague and rushed.

Similar measures in New Zealand and the Netherlands

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is preparing a similar bill to restrict children’s use of social media. Meanwhile, the Dutch government has advised parents to prevent children under 15 from using apps such as TikTok and Snapchat.