Roblox Enhances Safety: Blocks Children from Chatting with Adult Strangers

Roblox, a favorite gaming platform for kids, is making big changes to boost safety. Starting this December in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, and then globally in January, the platform will require age checks for users who want to chat. This means children won’t be able to talk to adult strangers anymore.

Roblox has faced backlash for allowing kids access to adult content and interactions. Lawsuits are already underway in several U.S. states over child safety issues. Meanwhile, Australia is pushing for tighter regulations around social media for kids, putting more pressure on platforms like Roblox.

In March, Roblox’s CEO, Dave Baszucki, advised anxious parents to reconsider allowing their kids on the platform. While new measures are welcome, many parents remain concerned about the potential for their children to encounter inappropriate content or adults, even with existing safety features. Rani Govender from the NSPCC noted that kids face “unacceptable risks” on Roblox, urging the platform to enhance protections.

In 2024, Roblox had over 80 million daily active users, with about 40% under the age of 13. The UK’s Online Safety Act has also put extra focus on protecting children online, with Ofcom overseeing compliance. Anna Lucas, Director at Ofcom, expressed satisfaction with Roblox’s new age-check measures but emphasized that more work is needed.

The upcoming updates include facial age verification, which estimates a user’s age using their device’s camera. This data will be deleted immediately after verification. Roblox plans to categorize users into age groups, restricting chat capabilities based on these categories. For those under 13, private messaging will still need parental permission.

Matt Kaufman, Roblox’s Chief Safety Officer, claims that the facial estimation technology can accurately assess ages within a one- to two-year margin for users aged five to 25. Although these checks are optional for now, they’ll become mandatory for chat access.

The introduction of these measures comes in response to rising concerns about adults contacting younger players. In a prior investigation, a 27-year-old user was able to send messages to a 15-year-old, highlighting gaps in Roblox’s safety protocols.

Beyond these tech-focused changes, there’s also a social dimension. Activist groups like ParentsTogether Action and UltraViolet are staging virtual protests within Roblox, pushing for stronger safety regulations. Their petition, signed by over 12,000 people, demands that Roblox tighten its safety measures to protect children better.

In summary, Roblox is taking steps to enhance safety amid growing scrutiny. As the platform introduces new age verification tools, it aims to create a more secure space for young users. However, the pressing question remains: will these changes effectively shield children from potential dangers online?

For more information on the Online Safety Act, you can visit Ofcom’s official site.

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