Roblox will implement mandatory age-gated account tiers starting mid-May, categorizing users into three account types: Roblox Kids, Roblox Select, and Roblox. Users aged 5-8 will be classified as Kids, ages 9-15 as Select, and those 16 and older will have regular accounts.
The categorization aligns with Roblox’s content maturity labels, which include Minimal, Mild, Moderate, and Restricted. Kids accounts will have chat disabled by default, allowing access only to Minimal and Mild content. Select users can chat with peers in their age group and trusted friends while accessing Moderate content.
All users will transition to a full account at age 16, but access to Restricted content will wait until they turn 18. Over half of Roblox’s user base is now verified through ID checks or facial recognition. Users who have not completed the age verification will experience a Kids-like environment, restricted to Mild-rated games without chat features.
To ensure age-appropriate user-generated content, Roblox plans to utilize ID verification and AI alongside a fee system for developers. Developers will be required to verify their identity and pay $5 monthly for Roblox Plus, a move designed to encourage accurate content labeling.
Roblox’s AI moderation system will monitor compliance with content maturity labels, although concerns remain regarding mislabeled games. Roblox acknowledged a potential risk where younger users might encounter content that does not accurately reflect its maturity rating. Kaufman stated, “If we get it wrong… we offer users multiple ways to correct that.”
The platform will also introduce new parental control features in June. Parents will gain the ability to block games and manage direct chat access for users under age 16. They can approve games outside their child’s age bracket on a case-by-case basis, further enhancing parental oversight.
Despite these efforts, doubts persist regarding the effectiveness of automated age verification, with past reports suggesting that some users might bypass these checks. Kaufman emphasized that Roblox continuously monitors user behavior against age-check data, and users may be prompted to re-verify their age if discrepancies emerge.
