As someone who’s been deeply immersed in the Roblox community for years, I couldn’t ignore the massive waves KreekCraft made recently when he sounded the alarm about Roblox’s new age-based chat system. When one of the platform’s most influential creators speaks up, we all need to pay attention—especially when it involves changes that could fundamentally reshape how millions of players interact daily.
Roblox just announced what they’re calling a “new industry benchmark for safety”—mandatory facial age verification for all users who want to access chat features. Starting January 2025, every single Roblox player will need to verify their age through either AI facial estimation or government ID verification before they can chat with anyone on the platform.
Here’s how it breaks down: once you complete the age check, Roblox assigns you to one of six age groups:
The system then restricts your chat interactions to people within your age group or similar ranges. For example, if you’re estimated to be 12 years old, you can chat with users 15 and younger, but anyone 16 or older is completely blocked from initiating or engaging in conversation with you.
Like KreekCraft, I have serious reservations about this approach. While I appreciate Roblox’s efforts to improve safety, I worry about several aspects of this implementation:
The Accuracy Problem Roblox claims their AI age estimation technology is “pretty accurate within one to two years” for users aged 5-25, with third-party testing showing a mean absolute error rate of 1.37 years. But what happens when the system gets it wrong? I’ve already seen reports from the community about people with “baby faces” being misclassified as younger than they actually are.
Privacy Concerns Even though Roblox promises that images and videos are “deleted immediately after processing,” the fact that users—many of them children—need to take selfies and upload them for age verification raises serious privacy questions. In an era where data breaches are common, collecting this much biometric data makes me nervous.
The Social Impact Perhaps my biggest concern is how this will affect the Roblox community’s social fabric. I’ve seen countless meaningful friendships form between players of different ages on Roblox—mentors guiding newcomers, older siblings playing with younger family members, and collaborative learning experiences that transcend age boundaries. KreekCraft’s right to worry that we’re throwing the baby out with the bathwater here.
If you’re under 13, the changes are even more restrictive. Chat in experiences will be turned off by default unless a parent provides consent after age verification. Chat outside of experiences remains completely restricted for users under 13. While I understand the safety rationale, this feels incredibly limiting for young players who want to socialize and make friends.
Teen players face a middle ground—more freedom than younger users but still significant restrictions. You’ll be able to chat with people in your age group and similar ranges, but interactions with adults 18+ are completely blocked unless they’re “Trusted Connections” (people you know in real life).
Adult players might think they’re less affected, but the changes impact everyone. If you’re 18 or older, you’ll be completely blocked from chatting with anyone under 16 unless they’re a Trusted Connection. This means adult creators, mentors, and family members who play with younger relatives will face significant barriers.
It’s important to understand that Roblox isn’t making these changes in a vacuum. The platform is facing serious pressure:
Legal Pressure Roblox is currently dealing with lawsuits from multiple states, including Texas, Kentucky, and Louisiana, over child safety concerns. Florida’s attorney general even called Roblox a “breeding ground for predators” when issuing a criminal subpoena.
Safety Incidents There have been disturbing reports of children being groomed, abused, and in some tragic cases, even kidnapped by adults they met on Roblox. A BBC investigation earlier this year found that it was possible for a 27-year-old user and a 15-year-old user to exchange messages, highlighting serious flaws in the previous system.
Industry-Wide Movement Roblox isn’t alone in implementing stricter age verification. Other platforms like YouTube and Meta are also using AI for age estimates, though Roblox’s approach is particularly comprehensive for a gaming platform.
Despite my concerns, I have to acknowledge that Roblox is taking some positive steps:
Privacy Protections The company emphasizes that images and videos are deleted immediately after processing, and they’re using a third-party vendor (Persona) that also commits to deleting the data. This is better than storing biometric data long-term.
Trusted Connections Feature I appreciate that Roblox is including a “Trusted Connections” feature that allows age-checked users 13 or older to chat freely with people they know in real life. This helps preserve important relationships like siblings, cousins, and family friends.
Parental Controls Parents will still have access to their child’s linked account and can modify their child’s birthday through Parental Controls after age verification is complete. This maintains parental oversight, which I believe is crucial.
The Roblox community has been vocal about these changes. KreekCraft’s tweet expressing concern garnered over 800,000 views, showing how deeply this resonates with players. Meanwhile, the nonprofit ParentsTogether Action organized a virtual protest within Roblox itself, delivering a digital petition with over 12,000 signatures demanding stronger safety measures.
Child safety organizations like the NSPCC have welcomed the changes but are calling for Roblox to “ensure they deliver change for children in practice and prevent adult perpetrators from targeting and manipulating young users.”
If you’re worried about these changes like I am, here’s what I recommend:
Roblox’s age-based chat system could set a precedent for other gaming platforms. As someone who follows the industry closely, I believe we’re seeing the beginning of a major shift in how online platforms handle age verification and user interactions.
The question is whether this approach will actually make young users safer or simply create new problems while solving old ones. I’m hopeful that Roblox will listen to community feedback from creators like KreekCraft and adjust their implementation based on real-world usage and user experiences.
When do these changes take effect? The voluntary period starts immediately. Mandatory verification begins in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands in December November, then rolls out globally in January 2025.
What if the AI gets my age wrong? Users over 13 can upload a government ID to correct their age estimation. Parents can also correct their child’s age through parental controls.
Can I still play with family members who are different ages? Yes, through the “Trusted Connections” feature, which allows verified users 13+ to chat freely with people they know in real life.
Is my photo data safe? Roblox claims images and videos are deleted immediately after processing and not stored long-term.
What happens if I don’t verify my age? You’ll lose access to all chat features on the platform, though you can still play games.
Will this affect my existing friends? If your friends fall outside your age group and aren’t Trusted Connections, you won’t be able to chat with them anymore.
As I reflect on these changes, I find myself torn. On one hand, I genuinely believe Roblox is trying to do the right thing by protecting young users. The platform has faced legitimate criticism over safety issues, and something needed to change.
On the other hand, I share KreekCraft’s concerns about the potential negative impacts on community, socialization, and user experience. The Roblox I know and love has always been about bringing people together through creativity and play, and I worry that these age restrictions might inadvertently isolate players rather than protect them.
What do you think about these changes? Are you concerned like KreekCraft and I am, or do you believe this is a necessary step for online safety? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences as we navigate this new era of Roblox together.
For more Roblox guides and gaming safety tips, check out our Roblox safety guides and stay informed about the latest developments in online gaming protection.
