Roblox Announces Age-Segregated Accounts for Safety

Roblox, the popular online gaming platform with over 144 million daily users worldwide, announced plans Monday to launch age-segregated accounts aimed at improving child safety. The changes, set to begin in the United States in mid-May 2024 and roll out globally by June, will divide users into three categories based on age verification: Roblox Kids for ages 5 to 8, Roblox Select for ages 9 to 15, and standard accounts for those 16 and older.

The initiative responds to ongoing criticism that Roblox has failed to adequately protect young users from inappropriate content and predators. Under the new system, Roblox Kids accounts will disable chat by default and restrict access to games rated Minimal or Mild for maturity. Roblox Select users will gain limited chat with peers in their age group or trusted contacts approved by parents, along with access to Moderate-rated content. Users 16 and older will receive full platform features, though Restricted content remains unavailable until age 18. Those who skip age verification will default to a Kids-like experience, limiting them to Mild content without chat.

Age determination relies on the platform's existing verification technology,...