Roblox New Age Estimation Feature Sparks Privacy and Safety Concerns

Roblox is implementing one of its most significant safety updates to date, and it has already sparked considerable controversy. Roblox is introducing a new age estimation system that users must complete to chat with anyone on the Roblox platform.

The feature utilises Persona's AI-supported scanning tools. Players will be asked to upload either a photo or a video selfie that can be scanned by the tool to categorise them into an age group.

Roblox New Age Estimation Feature Explained

The new platform will categorise users into six age categories: Under 9, 9–12, 13–15, 16–17, 18–20 and 21+. Once categorised, players can only communicate with users in their category or users in a close category.

For example, a 12-year-old can communicate with users up to the age of 15, whereas a 16-year-old cannot communicate with a user under the age of 16. Adults can only communicate with older categories unless they add the other user as a Trusted Connection.

The Roblox New Age Estimation Feature is designed to stop adults and minors from openly communicating without verification, for which the organisation has received backlash in the past several years. Roblox states that images submitted for verification are deleted right after processing.

The company is attempting to position this as conversation access control without disclosing much information about the verified users, while simultaneously claiming that the technology has a little margin of error in just over a year. If players disagree with the estimate they received, they can submit a government ID for verification.

What Prompted Roblox to Take this Step?

Roblox has faced scrutiny from lawsuits, investigations and public backlash regarding safety on the platform. One such entity is Dolman Law Firm, which is pursuing many cases for not reasonably protecting minors from grooming and exploitation. Several commentators and safety advocates called attention to Roblox, making it a cornerstone in a larger discussion around online safety for children.

Roblox claims this rollout of age estimation is part of an initiative that involved over 145 changes made for safety in 2025. These changes include stricter chat filters, real-time AI moderation, banning image sharing in chat, and extra parental controls. Chat will default to off for users under 9 unless parents specifically turn it on. Communication for all users under 13 remains very limited.

Why Are Fans Worried About this New Feature?

Roblox believes this is an industry-first feature, and they hope others will follow. Critics are concerned about uploading images, the reliability of age verification, and those who fake their age using different photos to bypass verification.

Regardless, Roblox believes the system is safe and will allow them to keep younger players safer by preventing adults and minors from chatting freely. The moderation system will also be expanded to social links, collaboration tools in Roblox Studio, and other features in 2026.

It remains unknown whether the community will accept the changes or continue to push back further, but one thing is that communication on Roblox is about to change drastically.