Roblox just made a big move in the ongoing fight to protect minors online as it releases new features and regulations.
While most social platforms technically require users to be a certain age (Instagram, TikTok, and others all have minimum age requirements), workarounds are laughably easy.
Roblox, however, appears to be taking a firmer stand in the fight for child safety. The gaming platform will now require people to confirm their age through ID identification or video if they want to connect to others.
This change comes in response to mounting pressure to address the problem of harmful interactions affecting children, a problem the company has been criticised for not addressing.
What’s Changing, Exactly?
In a recent announcement, Roblox announced a major overhaul of its social features, including a new social interaction system.
The platform will now categorize interactions between users into two tiers: Connections (the new term replacing “friends”) and Trusted Connections (basically "best friends").
Only users who verify their age – either by uploading government ID or submitting a video selfie – will be able to create Trusted Connections, which offer unrestricted chat and social options.
For minors aged 13–17, Trusted Connections can be established with peers in the same age group, provided both verify their ages.
If a teen wants to connect with someone over 18, they’ll have to confirm a real-world relationship, either by scanning a QR code together or sharing their contact list.
And users under 13? They won’t have access to Trusted Connections at all.
Despite the new feature, Roblox emphasizes that all communication, including voice chat, will still be monitored for serious safety concerns like grooming. The platform also continues to ban photo and video sharing in chat, no matter your age.
Wait… a Video Selfie?
One of the most talked-about changes is the platform’s new age estimation system.
According to Roblox, their age estimation model compares the selfies to a “large and diverse dataset” to figure out how old a person looks.
And if the age estimation system can’t tell how old you are? Those who fail the selfie test but are genuinely over 13 can verify their identity through ID upload or parental consent. Otherwise, access will be denied. Understandably, not everyone is convinced.
“I’ve seen 15-year-olds who look 30, and 30-year-olds who look 15. How could this possibly work just based on appearance?", one user pointed out.
Another player expressed their concern over the dev-forum, where the changes where made public: “I don’t see how this is going to work. What’s stopping someone from uploading a video of their older cousin? Or using an AI app to look older?”
Why Roblox Is Doing This
Roblox's commitment to safety comes after years of increasing criticism and several scandals.
The gaming platform, which had 85 million daily active users in 2024 (about 40% of them under 13!) has long struggled to align its child-friendly image with the darker aspects of user-generated content and social interaction.
In 2024, Hindenburg Research and Bloomberg Businessweek published critical reports alleging that Roblox prioritises profit over child safety. Bloomberg identified at least two dozen confirmed cases since 2018 of predators using the platform to groom or abuse children.
The Guardian also reported that test avatars overheard sexual content and disturbing audio in the platform’s voice chats. Community responses included stories of children developing anxiety or being groomed by adults.
People Are Mad… But Not Just About the Safety Regulations
Surprisingly, it's not the new regulations that have provoked the most anger online, but the fact that Roblox changed the word "Friends" to "Connections".
Players have taken to social media to vent:
“Connections make it sound like these people are just objects 💀”
“What is this, LinkedIn?”
“This is stupid. I really hate the direction Roblox has been taking these past few years. It feels more corporate and depressing than ever.”
It’s a small change, but for a lot of players – especially those who’ve grown up on Roblox – it feels symbolic of a platform drifting away from its original community vibe.
Despite the gripes, some features have been positively received. Many users, particularly teens, have welcomed other newly introduced features of the update like screen time controls and the ability to limit notifications.
So… Will This Actually Work?
It’s hard to say. Roblox says it’s working with experts, including the Teen Council, Trust and Safety Advisory Board, Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital, and the Family Online Safety Institute, to get things right. But no system is foolproof.
Kids are smart. They’ll find workarounds. Predators are even smarter and more dangerous. Some worry that unless these changes are backed by strong enforcement and continued oversight, they won’t go far enough.
Still, Roblox is trying. Whether it’s too little, too late or a meaningful step forward will depend on how seriously they follow through.