Roblox Now Uses Your Face for Age Verification

Roblox says simple age checkboxes are 'not enough anymore,' rolling out new facial age estimation technology to verify user ages on its platform.

Roblox is shifting its approach to age verification, moving away from simple self-declaration. Eliza Jacobs, the company's vice president of safety product policy, stated that "ticking a box to say you're 13 or older, it's not enough anymore." The platform is now using a new facial age estimation technology that requires users to take a video selfie. This new system was recently tested by a news organization, which found that children were unable to bypass the check even when using simple disguises like a fake mustache. Roblox expressed optimism that the technology will continue to improve over time, making it a more reliable method for confirming a user's age.

This move signals a significant trend for any company managing online communities, especially those with younger users. The transition from self-attested age to biometric verification marks a major step in trust and safety protocols. For founders, CTOs, and security teams, this development highlights the growing importance of robust identity solutions. It also raises critical questions about data privacy and the responsible handling of sensitive biometric information. Implementing such a system requires careful consideration of regulatory compliance, such as COPPA in the U.S., and the technical infrastructure needed to process and secure this data. Roblox's decision could set a new industry standard, pressuring other platforms to re-evaluate their own age-gating methods.

The broader implications of this shift will be closely watched. As major platforms like Roblox adopt more sophisticated age verification, it could accelerate innovation in privacy-preserving biometric technologies. However, it will also likely attract increased scrutiny from privacy advocates and regulators concerned about the collection of facial data, particularly from minors. The key challenge for the industry will be to balance the clear need for enhanced safety measures with the fundamental right to user privacy. The success and user reception of Roblox's new system will likely influence how quickly and widely similar technologies are adopted across the web.