- Roblox expands mandatory age verification for chat features to all regions
- Users must agree to a facial scan to be assigned an age group
- Experts have previously criticized similar methods of age verification for security reasons
After testing it in a few markets, Roblox has announced that it is expanding its facial age verification for voice and text chat features to all regions effective immediately.
Previously restricted to specific areas and age groups, the new policy means any user who wants to use the platform’s social communication tools must prove their age to do so. This involves agreeing to have their face scanned in order to be assigned the correct age group and to be able to communicate with others in similar age groups. Users can challenge this age assessment using other methods, including ID verification or parental controls.
The move comes amid a sweeping global trend of tougher internet rules. As we saw last year when age verification changed the internet in 2025, platforms are under increasing pressure to ensure that minors are protected from inappropriate content and predatory behavior.
However, similar methods for age verification have previously had advocates for privacy. As digital anonymity erodes, users also become more aware of their digital footprint. That’s why many people are increasingly turning to the best VPN apps to avoid mandatory age checks and protect their online data.
In the official announcement, Roblox states that this global rollout is essential to foster a “civil and safe” society. But for many gamers, the requirement to hand over their sensitive details to a video game developer could feel like a significant privacy trade-off.
Privacy risks of data centralization
While the intent behind Roblox’s announcement is clearly to improve the safety of younger users – with the platform ensuring that privacy remains “paramount” – age verification methods based on facial age estimation or scans of ID documents could create a new risk vector.
That’s because when a platform collects millions of ID documents and biometric details, it becomes a massive target for cybercriminals. We have seen this scenario play out recently. Just last year, Discord revealed more about a massive data breach where nearly 70,000 public ID photos were exposed.
If a similar breach were to occur with Roblox’s massive user base, the fallout could be catastrophic, potentially exposing the true identities of millions of players.
This is why privacy experts have so far criticized new verification checks. The argument is that while age verification is important, current methods of storing sensitive personal data on company servers are fraught with danger.
What it means for the players
For the average Roblox player, the process will be relatively seamless, provided they are willing to share their data. The system needs to access their camera to allow Persona, Roblox’s age verification third party, to scan their face to verify their age.
“We are constantly evaluating user behavior to determine whether someone is significantly older or younger than expected. In these situations, we will soon begin asking users to repeat the age verification process,” the provider explains, adding that users who want to challenge the age estimate can do so using alternative methods, “including ID verification or parental controls that allow parents to update their child’s age.”
Once verified, the voice and text chat features are unlocked among the corresponding age group to promote “age-appropriate conversations”.
As Roblox moves forward with this global policy, users must now decide if the ability to chat is worth the potential exposure of their personal identity.
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