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With a significant update rolled out in July 2025, Roblox is introducing a revolutionary AI-based video selfie age verification process. It is designed to enhance online safety for accounts under 18. By integrating age estimation with an overhauled friend system and parent tools, Roblox is solidifying its status as a pioneer in online youth safety.
To be eligible for more casual communication, individuals aged 13 and above must upload a brief video selfie. The selfie is assessed by AI to check the age of the player. A confident guess unlocks features such as unfiltered text and voice chat.
An AI-based video selfie can be hurtful at times. If the AI is unsure, the user can verify their identity via a government-issued ID or (coming soon) parental approval. Biometric information will be erased after 30 days, unless it is legally required to be retained.
Roblox is swapping the generic ‘friends’ list with a tiered system: Connections.
For teenagers (13-17), Trusted Connections enable greater chat freedom under still moderation to catch predatory or abusive content. Adult-teen connections are verified in the real world through QR scanning or contact import.
Increased privacy and well-being controls
Screen-time data & controls for teenagers
DND mode and personalized online presence to control when and whom can see or alert them.
Parental data, with teenager agreement, on screen time, Trusted Connections list, and spending notifications.
These features enable teenagers to find independence in balance with parental protection.
Also Read: Top 10 Roblox Horror Games to Play With Friends in 2025
Roblox’s Chief Safety Officer, Matt Kaufman, promotes a philosophy of being ‘safe by default.’ Verified teens get free chat, but baseline filters and moderation still apply to everybody. However, some safety advocates are worried that requiring opt-in verification places too much work on minors, whose control could leave gaps, in turn creating exposure.
Critics, such as Kirra Pendergast, call for compulsory co-verification by guardians to neutralize grooming dangers regarding the subject of staying safe on social media.
Roblox's move follows wider industry trends toward more aggressive age gating: Reddit and Bluesky have just followed suit with similar policies, driven by regulatory pressure. AI‑based age verification is becoming normal in child‑oriented apps fast.
Roblox has about 98 million users from 180 countries, with more than 60% over the age of 13. Policing predatory behavior within Roblox has stepped up significantly in recent years following numerous grooming incidents and law enforcement actions.
Also Read: Roblox’s Grow A Garden Breaks Fortnite’s Biggest Feat in Gaming History
Teen protection has become a very serious issue nowadays. Roblox's AI-based video-selfie age check and multi-tiered connection system represent a considerate, AI-driven evolution in youth safety.
These shifts strike a balance between adolescent social interaction and needed safeguards, using technology without abandoning human supervision entirely.
The system promotes responsibility through AI, moderation, and, conceivably, parental approval. Yet, bringing about safer online societies hinges on implementation: making some protections opt-in could undermine their effectiveness.
To be most effective, real‑world accountability must lie not only with users, but with guardians and the platform as well. Nevertheless, this action establishes a positive precedent for future safety infrastructure throughout the metaverse.
