Roblox Implements Facial Age Verification and Age Based Chat Controls Amid Rising Lawsuits Over Child Safety

New Age Check Features Aim to Protect Minors as Legal Claims Allege Exploitation, Grooming, and Inadequate Safety Measures on the Platform.

Roblox Corporation recently announced a series of major safety changes designed to strengthen protections for its younger users. These updates come at a time when the platform is facing significant legal pressure, including at least 35 lawsuits alleging that its systems failed to safeguard minors from predators and harmful interactions. The gaming platform, used by tens of millions of children and teens around the world, has been at the center of intense scrutiny from parents, state attorneys general, and federal courts over claims that the environment allowed predators to contact, groom, and exploit minors.

The announced safety measures include facial age checks, optional age-based chat controls, and tools for parents to confirm and adjust a child’s age. These updates are intended to shield minors from inappropriate interactions. Roblox hopes these changes set a new industry benchmark for platform safety.

The rollout of age verification technology and adjusted chat settings signals a shift in Roblox’s approach to safety, and the company emphasizes that it is “committed to setting the industry standard for safety.” However, legal advocates and families affected by abuse on the platform say that these changes address only a portion of a much larger problem. Many lawsuits remain active, and families are seeking accountability, compensation, and structural change.

This introduction sets the stage for a deeper understanding of why Roblox’s safety changes matter, how they are designed to work, and how they relate to ongoing litigation. For families whose children have been harmed, these developments may offer reassurance that the platform is attempting to adapt, but they do not erase past injuries. If your child was harmed on Roblox, you may have legal options and deserve to know what comes next.

Details of the New Safety Measures Roblox Is Rolling Out

Roblox has announced that it will implement several notable changes to how users are verified and how they communicate on the platform. These modifications are aimed primarily at preventing unsafe interactions between minors and adults.

Facial Age Estimation Technology

One of the most significant elements of Roblox’s new safety plan is the introduction of Facial Age Estimation (FAE) technology. This system uses a device’s camera to analyze a user’s face and estimate age. Users may also verify age by providing a valid government‑issued ID, though the platform promises the process is “fast, easy, and secure.” Roblox claims that this technology allows the platform to more accurately match chat permissions and features to a user’s age group.

Once verified, users are assigned to one of several age categories:

• Under 9 years old
• 9 to 12
• 13 to 15
• 16 to 17
• 18 to 20
• 21 and over

Age‑Based Chat Controls

After age verification, Roblox will automatically adjust in‑game chat features. For example:

• Children under 9 will have chat disabled by default unless a parent consents and confirms the child’s age.
• Older minors will be allowed to chat only with users in compatible age groups.
• Adults will be prevented from automatically chatting with younger minors, reducing the risk of predatory contact.

Roblox also provides a “trusted connections” feature, allowing minor players to authorize connections with specific users outside their age group, such as siblings or family friends. This feature is optional and designed to give parents and guardians greater control over who their child may interact with on the platform.

Parental Controls and Age Modification

Parents can access and change their child’s age information within the profile settings. This parent‑controlled system aims to ensure accuracy in age classification, enabling appropriate safety settings based on a child’s verified age.

Global Rollout Timeline

Roblox plans a phased implementation of these changes, beginning in December 2025 in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. The remainder of the world, including the United States, will see the changes take effect in January 2026.

These safety updates represent a significant technological and policy investment by Roblox. The platform’s public statements emphasize its desire to cultivate “age‑appropriate environments” for all users, particularly its youngest members.

Why Roblox Is Facing Lawsuits and Criticism

Despite its size and influence, Roblox’s safety model has been challenged by parents, legal professionals, and public officials due to a history of incidents in which minors were contacted by adult predators through the platform.

Lawsuits Alleging Child Sexual Exploitation and Grooming

The most serious legal challenges against Roblox involve claims that the platform’s chat features and user‑generated worlds enabled predators to identify, contact, and exploit minors. Plaintiffs in these lawsuits argue that Roblox knew or should have known that its safety systems were insufficient. These claims include:

• Inadequate moderation of chat and messaging systems
• Lack of effective filters or blocking mechanisms
• Design choices that made it easy for adults to reach out to children
• False or misleading safety claims in marketing and documentation

Several families have testified that predators initiated contact within Roblox and then moved conversations to external platforms, where oversight was limited or nonexistent. This pattern is often described as a failure of the platform to prevent foreseeable misuse of its systems.

These cases have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. MDLs allow similar claims to proceed together, enabling coordinated discovery and case management. As of late 2025, there have been no verdicts or settlements in these suits, and Roblox continues to deny that its platforms are inherently unsafe.

Lawsuits Concerning Video Game Addiction and Psychological Harm

Another group of lawsuits alleges that Roblox’s design is deliberately addictive. Plaintiffs in these cases argue that:

• Reward systems, unpredictable incentives, and peer pressures are designed to maximize user engagement without regard for children’s well‑being.
• Parents were not adequately informed about the potential psychological harms of excessive gameplay.
• Children experienced symptoms such as anxiety, depression, rage, sleep disruption, and, in some cases, physical manifestations like seizures or compulsive behavior as a result of prolonged use.

These claims differ from the exploitation lawsuits in that they focus less on predatory contact and more on internal behavioral and emotional impacts of the platform’s design. A federal panel declined to consolidate these cases into an MDL due to differences in injuries and legal theories, so they proceed individually in various courts.

How Roblox’s New Features Are Expected to Work and Their Practical Effects

Roblox’s safety updates aim to create a more controlled environment for minor users while still preserving social interaction.

Facial Age Verification: Strengths and Limitations

The introduction of facial age detection technology is intended to ensure that users are placed in appropriate age categories and thereby restrict chat features accordingly. The strength of this system is that it reduces reliance on self‑reported age, which many children misstate either intentionally or unintentionally. Verification through biometric technology or valid identification is designed to enhance accuracy.

However, critics note that no system is perfect. Facial age estimation may raise privacy concerns and may not always be accurate. Additionally, requiring children to scan their faces or provide identification raises questions about data storage, security, and consent.

Age‑Based Chat: Reducing Adult‑Minor Communications

By limiting chat interactions between age groups, Roblox aims to make it far more difficult for adults to contact minors without explicit permission or established relationships. Children under age 9, for example, will have chat disabled unless a parent consents through an age check and verification process.

For older minors, communication will be limited to users within similar age categories. Features like “trusted connections” give families flexibility to maintain relationships between siblings or family friends under controlled settings.

Parental Controls and Oversight

Roblox’s system allows parents to correct or confirm their child’s age and adjust settings accordingly. This added layer of oversight acknowledges that caretakers should have the authority to influence social interactions and messaging capabilities, particularly for younger children.

Global Implementation and Adaptation

The phased rollout reflects an attempt by Roblox to implement these systems widely while managing technical and infrastructural challenges. Beginning in selected countries in late 2025 allows Roblox to test the system before expanding to a global user base in early 2026.

While these changes represent progress, legal advocates emphasize that they do not address all of the harms alleged in ongoing lawsuits. Plaintiffs maintain that prevention requires not only technology but also corporate accountability and more effective enforcement of safety standards.

Parental Responsibilities and Best Practices Under the New System

The introduction of these safety features highlights the importance of parental involvement in children’s online activity. Parents and caregivers can take proactive steps to protect children and reinforce safe habits.

Verify and Monitor Age Settings

Parents should ensure that their child’s Roblox profile reflects accurate age information. Misstating a child’s age can inadvertently expose them to settings designed for older users. Through the platform’s parental controls, caregivers can view and adjust age categories to match real‑world ages.

Understand and Use Chat Restrictions

Familiarity with Roblox’s age‑based chat options allows parents to determine which communication channels their child may use. For younger children, keeping chat disabled or restricted to “trusted connections” minimizes the opportunities for contact with strangers.

Parents should review chat logs periodically and have open discussions with their children about who they are communicating with on the platform.

Educate Children About Online Safety

Children should understand that not everyone online has good intentions. Parents can encourage children to:

• Only interact with known friends.
• Avoid sharing personal information.
• Inform a parent or guardian if uncomfortable or concerned about a conversation.

Set Screen Time and Engagement Limits

In addition to safety settings, parents can establish healthy screen time boundaries, encourage offline activities, and monitor behavior changes that may indicate compulsive gaming.

Report Suspicious Activity to Roblox and Law Enforcement

If an adult user attempts to contact a child inappropriately, parents should report the incident to Roblox immediately and, when appropriate, to local law enforcement. Proper reporting increases the chance of timely intervention and evidence preservation.

While technology can provide safeguards, active supervision and communication between parents and children remain essential components of online safety.

Legal Options for Families Impacted by Harm on Roblox

Families whose children have been harmed on Roblox may have legal options that allow them to seek financial compensation and accountability from Roblox Corporation.

Filing a Lawsuit for Child Exploitation and Grooming

If a child was contacted or groomed by an adult on the platform, a lawsuit may be filed alleging that Roblox failed to provide adequate safety measures and knowingly allowed conditions that facilitated harm. Damages in these cases may include:

• Medical expenses for therapy or psychological care
• Pain and suffering or emotional distress damages
• Economic losses related to missed school or caregiver time
• Punitive damages in cases showing egregious corporate negligence

Lawsuits for Psychological and Behavioral Harm

Parents of children who developed anxiety, depression, or clinical dysfunction due to excessive gameplay may pursue claims related to negligent design or failure to warn. These lawsuits often focus on:

• Lack of clear disclosure about addiction risks
• Design features that promote compulsive usage
• Failure to provide parental control tools or warnings

Claims Under Consumer Protection Laws

State attorneys general in Kentucky, Louisiana, and Tennessee have filed lawsuits alleging deceptive and unfair business practices. These claims focus on Roblox’s marketing and representations about safety and may affect related private legal claims for harmed families.

Statute of Limitations and Filing Deadlines

Each state has its own deadlines for filing lawsuits, known as statutes of limitations. In many child abuse and exploitation cases, these time limits may be extended or tolled until the victim reaches adulthood. It is important for families to consult with a qualified attorney promptly to determine eligibility and filing windows.

Roblox Lawsuit Frequently Asked Questions

What new safety measures has Roblox announced?
Roblox announced facial age verification, age‑based chat controls that restrict communications between minors and adults, and enhanced parental controls to manage age settings. These changes aim to reduce unsafe interactions and align chat permissions with verified age groups.

Why is Roblox facing lawsuits?
Roblox faces lawsuits alleging that its platform did not adequately protect children from online predators and that its design encouraged excessive or addictive use, causing psychological harm. State attorneys general have also filed claims alleging deceptive safety practices.

What is facial age verification, and how does it work?
Facial age verification uses a camera‑based scan or a valid ID to estimate a user’s age, ensuring that chat permissions and social features match the appropriate age group. Roblox promises the process is secure and optional.

Will these new features prevent all harmful interactions?
While age verification and chat restrictions reduce some risks, no system can guarantee complete safety. Children may still encounter inappropriate content, and responsible supervision by parents remains essential.

Can parents control their child’s age and settings?
Yes. Parents can view and adjust age settings within the child’s Roblox profile, which affects chat permissions and content accessibility.

What should I do if my child was harmed on Roblox?
Save all communication logs, messages, and screenshots. Document any psychological or behavioral changes and consult a personal injury attorney experienced with online harms and product safety cases.

Are there deadlines to file a lawsuit?
Yes. Statutes of limitations vary by state. Abuse and exploitation claims may have extended filing windows. An attorney can advise on the specific deadlines for your child’s case.

Is a class action lawsuit available for all victims?
Child exploitation lawsuits have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation in federal court. Addiction‑related cases are proceeding individually due to differences in claims.

Contact Parker Waichman LLP For A Free Case Review

If your child was harmed through exploitation, grooming, or psychological injury linked to Roblox Corporation’s platform, you may have legal rights and options. Parker Waichman LLP is a national personal injury law firm representing families across the United States in cases involving unsafe platforms and childhood harm. Our team offers free consultations to review your situation, answer questions, and explain what steps you can take. There are no fees unless we recover compensation for your family.

Call 1‑800‑YOUR‑LAWYER (1‑800‑968‑7529) today for a free, confidential case evaluation and justice on behalf of your child. Regardless of your location or where your injury occurred, our nationwide product injury law firm is ready to assist you.