Popular gaming platform Roblox Corporation has announced it will implement mandatory age verification checks for users wanting to access chat features on its platform. The new security measure represents a significant step toward protecting younger players from potential online risks.
New Age Verification System Details
Beginning in the first week of December 2025, Roblox will require players to undergo facial recognition or identification checks before they can participate in chat functions. The California-based company confirmed that this makes them the first online gaming platform to mandate facial age verification for chat access.
The verification process will be handled by identity verification company Persona directly through the Roblox application. The company has assured users that all facial images and video data will be deleted immediately after processing to protect privacy.
While players can voluntarily complete age verification now, the feature will become compulsory for chat access when fully implemented. The system will categorize users into six distinct age bands ranging from under nine years old to over twenty-one.
Global Rollout Schedule
The new age verification requirement will launch initially in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands during the first week of December 2025. Following this pilot phase, the system will expand globally in early January 2026.
Roblox stated that the primary objectives include preventing children under nine from chatting without parental consent and limiting direct communication between adults and minors on the platform.
Connection to Australian Social Media Ban
This announcement comes weeks before Australia's strict new social media regulations take effect. Starting December 10, 2025, Australia will prohibit children under sixteen from joining platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Social media companies that fail to implement reasonable measures to detect and remove underage accounts face substantial penalties of up to AU$49.5 million (approximately US$32 million).
Interestingly, Roblox has been classified among several platforms including Discord, WhatsApp, and Lego Play that are currently exempt from Australia's social media legislation. However, Australian authorities retain the right to mandate compliance from excluded platforms if necessary.
Technology companies have criticized Australia's approach, describing the legislation as vague, problematic, and rushed. Some experts have expressed concerns about the practical challenges of implementing and enforcing online age verification systems.
The movement toward stricter online child protection is gaining international momentum. New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon plans to introduce similar restrictions on children's social media use, while the Dutch government has advised parents to prevent children under fifteen from using apps like TikTok and Snapchat.
