Roblox Blocks Kids from Bypassing New Age Checks

When kids tried to outsmart Roblox's new age verification system with fake mustaches and creative angles, the technology didn't budge.

The popular gaming platform is rolling out facial age estimation tech that analyzes video selfies to sort players into appropriate age brackets. NBC News tested the system with a group of children who attempted various tricks to fool it, but none succeeded.

"Ticking a box to say you're 13 or older, it's not enough anymore," says Eliza Jacobs, Roblox's vice president of safety product policy. The shift comes after years of concerns about children accessing inappropriate content and interactions on gaming platforms.

The technology can estimate a child's age within 1.4 years of their actual age. Players under 16 now get sorted into "Roblox Select" accounts, while kids under 9 receive "Kids" accounts with restricted chat features and limited game access.

Parents still have options beyond facial scanning. They can verify ages using government IDs or manually set their child's age group themselves, giving families control over how they protect their kids online.

Roblox saw a temporary dip in daily users after introducing the age checks in April. But Jacobs remains committed to the platform's safety vision, acknowledging that not everyone will be happy with stricter verification.

The Ripple Effect

This move signals a broader shift across the tech industry. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are also implementing AI-based age detection, analyzing bone structure in photos to identify underage users.

The UK government recently announced plans for an under-16 social media ban, and multiple US states have reached settlements with Roblox over child safety concerns. Nevada alone secured a $10 million settlement with the platform in April.

What makes Roblox's approach noteworthy is that it balances safety with usability. Kids can still play, parents maintain oversight, and the platform gets better at protecting young users without requiring intrusive data collection.

The technology will continue improving as more users interact with it. Jacobs says the team feels "optimistic" about the system's ability to adapt and become more accurate over time.

For parents who've worried about their children's online safety, this represents a meaningful step forward. Gaming doesn't have to choose between fun and protection anymore.