Roblox will soon require all users accessing its chat feature to get their faces scanned by AI in a new age-based chat system designed to limit communication between kids and adults.  

Facial scan technology that can check a user’s age more effectively has been widely floated as a safety feature with strong potential in the kids industry, as companies seek out better ways to stay on the right side of COPPA and keep young users away from platforms not intended for them. But with this feature, Roblox will become the first online gaming or communication platform to require such checks to access its chat, according to the company. 

The gradual rollout is beginning today with a voluntary period. But the age checks will become a requirement in early December for a few smaller markets (Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands) so that Roblox has an opportunity to test the feature before a global implementation in January.

Roblox has a large kids base, to the tune of an estimated 32 million users under the age of 13. And it has frequently fallen under fire from critics who say the company is not doing enough to protect children from predators and inappropriate content. 

Those doing business in the kids industry are acutely aware that current methods for checking a user’s age—like having kids check a box saying they’re over 13—are not effective at keeping kids away. That’s what Roblox used to do, but the US government’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act has made it clear that a check-box system isn’t enough to avoid violating its rules.

Roblox’s “Facial Age Estimation” system will work within the app using any device’s camera. A vendor called Persona operates this AI-powered technology that scans the face for age verification (deleting the information immediately afterwards). Users won’t necessarily have to go through the process to use Roblox, but they won’t be able to access the chat feature until they do. 

Roblox shared a lot of details about the process in a release today. One of the most noteworthy highlights is that with this new system, users will only be able to chat with others who are close to them in age. A few of these cohorts include under nines, nine to 12s and 13 to 15s. 

Roblox says there are more facial age-check safety features coming next year, such as requiring checks to access social media links that are on user profiles. Creators building together in Roblox Studio will also be required to be of a similar age. 

And in early 2026, creators won’t be able to share or post social media links within games (users already can’t share links in chat), although this won’t affect commercial links delivered through official paid advertising. 

Image courtesy of Roblox.