Roblox Launches New Safety Features for 144M Young Users

Roblox is taking a major step to protect the millions of children who play on its platform every day.

The gaming giant just announced new age-based accounts with built-in safety features for its 144 million daily users. Kids ages 5 to 8 will get restricted "Kids" accounts, while players 9 to 15 receive "Roblox Select" accounts, both packed with parental controls and age-appropriate content filters.

Here's what makes this different: users will need to verify their real age through a live selfie or government ID to unlock the full platform. Anyone who skips verification gets automatically limited to content approved for the youngest players.

"If users are happy with the same games which are in Roblox Kids and they don't want to chat, then age check is not required," says Matt Kaufman, Roblox's chief safety officer. The company is giving existing users time to adjust without forcing immediate verification.

The youngest accounts come with visible safety features parents can spot instantly. Kids accounts display in a distinctive color so parents know their child is using the right profile at a glance. Chat features start turned off unless parents choose to enable them, and game access stays limited to "minimal" or "mild" rated content.

Older kids with Select accounts get slightly more freedom as they grow. They can access "moderate" rated games and unlock chat features at specific age milestones, but parents keep control over restrictions. Both account types block games with sensitive issues, social hangouts, or freeform drawing by default.

The Ripple Effect

This update reaches far beyond just one platform. With nearly half of U.S. kids under 16 using Roblox, these changes touch millions of families navigating online safety together. The age verification requirement also sets a new standard for how gaming companies can protect young users while still letting them create and play.

The changes come as parents nationwide worry about keeping kids safe in digital spaces. Roblox's existing chat moderation already blocks photos and videos, but the company acknowledges bad actors have found workarounds to lure kids to less-protected platforms.

At 16, players graduate to fuller accounts, though the strongest content with violence, alcohol references, and romantic themes stays locked until age 18. Roblox plans to adopt industry-standard ratings like those from the Entertainment Software Rating Board soon, making it even easier for parents to understand what their kids encounter.

For families who've watched their children dive deep into Roblox's creative world, these protections offer real peace of mind while kids keep building, playing, and connecting safely.