Roblox Introduces Improved Safety Features for Teens with Age Estimation Technology

On Thursday, Roblox unveiled new safety features tailored for users aged 13 to 18. The platform is introducing “Trusted Connections,” allowing these users to connect more freely with familiar individuals. This initiative is accompanied by the launch of age estimation technology, enhanced privacy options, and insights specifically for the parents of teenagers.

Roblox has faced scrutiny in recent years regarding its safety protocols for children. In April, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a subpoena to Roblox in light of reports that minors encountered inappropriate content and that predatory adults were able to communicate with children via the application.

The updates announced on Thursday appear to be a response to concerns raised by both lawmakers and parents. This enhancement for teens comes on the heels of protective measures introduced for users under 13 eight months ago.

In a notable change, Roblox is renaming “Friends” to “Connections” and introducing “Trusted Connections” to facilitate safe communication through chat and voice for teens with people they trust. Users within this framework can converse without filter limitations.

“Users identified as 13+ will have access to more expressive chat features with their Trusted Connections,” said Ryan Ebanks, senior product manager at Roblox, during a briefing with reporters. “This increased freedom is intended to minimize the urge for teens to move conversations off-platform, where they may encounter greater risks.”

Roblox has stated that interactions among Trusted Connections will be proactively monitored for significant risks, including grooming. Furthermore, parents will have visibility into who their teens have added as Trusted Connections.

To activate Trusted Connections, users must confirm their age through a selfie video using Roblox’s new age estimation technology, requiring an estimation of at least 13 years. If age confirmation cannot be achieved with high confidence, the user’s age will remain unverified. Users may also verify their age through ID documentation if the estimation fails.

Users aged 13 to 17 who have verified their age can connect as Trusted Connections. Unrestricted communication between users who are 18 and older and teens is limited unless a prior real-life relationship is confirmed via a QR code.

Roblox will employ age estimation technology across its platform to grant users access to age-appropriate features and content.

As for the new privacy settings, teens can now control who views their online status. They can choose to share this visibility exclusively with their Connections, their followers, with no one, or with everyone on Roblox. Additionally, a time frame can be set during which push notifications from Roblox will be silenced.

Roblox is equipping parents with a comprehensive set of tools to better track their child’s activity on the platform. Parents can now view their teen’s connections, monitor their playtime on Roblox, and see which games they engage with. Furthermore, parents can opt-in for notifications regarding specific transactions made by their teen on Roblox.

“We recognize that parents have busy lives, so we have crafted these tools to deliver quick insights that can seamlessly fit into their packed schedules,” shared Dina Lamdany, senior product manager at Roblox, during the briefing.