Following the implementation of mandatory facial verification for chat access, Roblox reports that 45% of its daily active users had completed age checks by January 31.
This initiative came in the wake of various lawsuits aimed at improving child safety, with legal actions from the attorneys general of Texas, Kentucky, and Louisiana. These lawsuits were triggered by concerns regarding the platform’s potential exposure of young users to risks like grooming and inappropriate content.
To complete the age verification, users are required to access the Roblox app, permit camera usage, and adhere to an on-screen guided process for facial recognition. Roblox assures users that all images and videos are deleted post-verification. The verification process is managed by a third-party service provider, Persona, which also confirms that all data is purged post-evaluation.
Once verified, users gain access to age-specific chat functionalities, allowing them to communicate only with peers within their designated age range. Six different age brackets are established: under 9, 9 to 12, 13 to 15, 16 to 17, 18 to 20, and 21+. Users can chat with individuals in their category as well as adjacent groups. For instance, those in the 9-12 group can interact with others within their age range and those in both the under-9 and 13-15 categories.
In cases where a user feels the age check has inaccurately assessed their age, they have the ability to appeal the verdict. Alternative verification methods include submitting identification or utilizing parental controls that permit parents to amend their child’s age.
During its Q4 2025 earnings announcement this week, Roblox revealed that the findings from age-verification checks suggest a younger demographic compared to user-reported data. This conclusion aligns with Roblox’s initial expectations. Of the users who completed the checks, 35% are under 13, 38% fall between 13 and 17, and 27% are over 18.
As this new process unfolded, concerns surfaced regarding potential loopholes. For instance, Wired highlighted reports of age-verified Roblox accounts being listed on eBay for minors as young as nine. Although eBay has since removed these listings, worries persist that someone could exploit the age verification system.
Eliza Jacobs, Roblox’s senior director of product policy, addressed these issues in a interview, stating that the platform employs continuous age-checking mechanisms to mitigate these risks and deter exploitation.
Jacobs elaborated that the platform monitors for signs indicating a mismatch between the account’s age and user activity. They track gameplay preferences and communication patterns, utilizing keystroke analysis to differentiate typing styles typical of adults versus children. Additionally, the way users employ emojis is also factored into assessing age accuracy, as older individuals often use them differently than younger users.
Roblox CEO and co-founder David Baszucki shared during the earnings call that the insights gathered from these age checks would inform revenue strategies. He stated, “We’ve identified a more substantial growth opportunity within the 18-plus demographic than we previously estimated,” noting that this group is expanding at a rate exceeding 50% and exhibiting a 40% higher monetization potential compared to younger users.
Baszucki added that Roblox is enhancing its platform to accommodate high-revenue genres that cater to older users, such as shooters, RPGs, sports, and racing games.
Moving forward, Roblox intends to continuously refine its safety measures to keep pace with evolving risks and meet user demands.
### Hustle Verdict
Our take is that Roblox’s stringent age verification process is a pivotal step in fostering a safer online environment, especially for its younger audience. The anticipated growth in the 18-plus demographic not only opens doors for diversified revenue streams but also indicates a shift in how platforms can monetize user engagement. The bottom line is, this move could redefine interactions within virtual spaces, setting a precedent for other platforms in the industry to prioritize safety while optimizing for profitability.
