Roblox is rolling out a new system that requires users to verify their age with a facial scan or government ID to access unfiltered chat features. This update aims to allow teens over 13 to chat more freely with trusted friends while maintaining safety controls.
The platform is renaming “Friends” as “Connections” and introducing a more selective group called “Trusted Connections.” These users can use unfiltered text chat and social features like the Party mode, where some language and personal information filters are lifted.
According to Roblox spokesperson Juliet Chaitin-Lefcourt, inappropriate terms like “butt-head” and sharing of personal information will not be automatically blocked between Trusted Connections.
To verify age, Roblox has partnered with identity verification company Persona to implement an age estimation tool. This uses a video selfie analysed against a large dataset to estimate the user’s age. If the system cannot confidently confirm that a user is over 13, they won’t gain access to Trusted Connections unless they verify their age using a government ID or, in the future, parental consent.
Users aged 13 to 17 who confirm their age can add peers of the same age group as Trusted Connections. Teens can only add adults over 18 as Trusted Connections if they know them in real life and verify the connection by scanning a QR code or using Roblox’s Contact Importer.
Though chats among Trusted Connections are unfiltered, Roblox will monitor conversations to prevent harmful behaviour. This includes guarding against predatory behaviour, inappropriate sexual conversations, and involvement with child sexual abuse material.
This safety update follows previous reports and concerns about predatory behaviour on Roblox. The company has already taken steps such as banning children under 13 from some social spaces and empowering parents with better control tools.
In addition to chat verification, Roblox is launching new well-being features. Users can control who sees their online status, set Do Not Disturb times to pause notifications, and allow teens to set their own screen time limits independently from parents.
Roblox’s new system reflects a growing trend in the tech world toward stronger age verification, aiming to protect young users while giving verified teens a safer space for social interaction.
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