'Roblox' game to impose age controls this year
The publisher of Roblox has pledged to introduce stronger age verification tools, following renewed criticism that the hugely popular gaming platform has failed to adequately protect its youngest users.
In a blog post on Wednesday, Roblox’s head of safety, Matt Kaufman, announced that the company will “expand age estimation to all Roblox users who access our on-platform communication features by the end of this year.” The initiative will rely on a mix of age estimation technologies, official ID checks, and parental consent to build new systems that restrict direct communication between adults and minors unless they have an existing real-world connection.
Roblox remains one of the world’s most used gaming platforms, attracting around 100 million daily players. Children under the age of 13 make up roughly 40 percent of its user base in 2024, highlighting the scale of the challenge in balancing accessibility with safety.
The company’s latest commitment comes amid mounting criticism. In August, the US state of Louisiana filed a lawsuit against Roblox, accusing it of enabling child exploitation and facilitating the distribution of child sexual abuse material. The platform has also faced repeated accusations in recent years of failing to protect children from online predators.
Further scrutiny came in 2023 when activist short-seller Hindenburg Research accused Roblox of exaggerating its player counts while neglecting user safety. Roblox strongly denied the claims but has since rolled out additional parental controls and content labeling features to strengthen protections.
The platform is distinctive for its toylike aesthetic and user-driven creativity. Players can design, share, and monetize their own “games within a game,” ranging from simple driving challenges and sports simulations to virtual concerts and combat experiences. Its vast ecosystem, however, has raised concerns about oversight, particularly as children engage with content created by strangers.
Roblox’s announcement also comes as governments worldwide increase pressure on online platforms to tighten age controls. In the United Kingdom, the new Online Safety Act obliges websites, social media networks, and video platforms to implement strict age verification measures. Meanwhile, France and several other EU member states are preparing to pilot a verification tool aimed at restricting access to adult content.
By committing to stricter safety measures, Roblox hopes to reassure parents, regulators, and its massive global community that it is taking meaningful steps to prevent exploitation and ensure that its virtual worlds remain safe spaces for younger players.
