Roblox will soon require users to complete an age check before accessing its chat feature, reports Cape {town} Etc.
The platform says the rule will take effect in early December in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands, ahead of a global rollout in January.
Users will be verified through facial age estimation or official identification, with processing handled by Persona. Roblox says all media is deleted once verification is complete.
Players will be grouped into six age bands and only be able to chat with others in the same bracket – a move the company says will reduce contact between adults and young children.
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The update comes as Australia prepares to introduce social media age rules from 10 December. According to the eSafety Commissioner, platforms that fail to comply could face substantial fines.
Childline South Africa has urged parents to monitor privacy settings and report any abuse. The organisation also provides a helpline and guidance for safer account settings.
Privacy experts have welcomed stronger child-protection measures but caution against potential errors, bias and data risks. Roblox maintains that its safety tools and parental controls remain central to the platform.
‘Proactive tools like age estimation are key to building a safer digital world for kids,’ Stephen Balkam of the Family Online Safety Institute told the publication.
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