Roblox is rolling out AI-powered age verification across its platform, attempting to solve one of gaming’s thorniest problems: ensuring kids aren’t exposed to content meant for adults while not alienating the older users who account for 58% of the platform’s engagement hours. Here’s how the new system actually works—and why it might become a template for the entire gaming industry.
Key Takeaways
- Roblox uses facial age estimation AI from Yoti, analyzing facial features to estimate age without storing biometric data.
- Users can also verify age via government ID or credit card—the AI face scan is one of three options.
- Age-verified users unlock access to 17+ experiences, including social hangouts, dating simulators, and content with mild violence.
- The company claims the AI achieves 98% accuracy for distinguishing under-13 from over-25 users, with lower accuracy in the 13-17 range.
How Does Roblox’s Age Verification Actually Work?
Roblox offers three paths to prove your age. The most controversial is the Yoti facial age estimation, which uses AI trained on millions of faces to estimate user age based on facial features—bone structure, skin texture, and proportions. Roblox claims the scan is “deleted immediately after processing” and no biometric data is stored. Users can alternatively upload a government-issued ID (processed by Veriff) or link a credit card.
“The face scan is explicitly designed to estimate age, not identify individuals,” explained Nick Park, Roblox’s VP of Trust & Safety, in a company blog post. “We don’t use facial recognition technology—this is age estimation only.” The distinction matters: facial recognition identifies specific people; age estimation attempts to determine roughly how old someone appears without knowing who they are. However, privacy advocates note that any AI analyzing faces creates potential for misuse.
Why Is Roblox Doing This Now?
Regulatory pressure and competitive positioning are both driving the move. The EU’s Digital Services Act requires platforms to take “appropriate measures” to protect minors. In the US, state laws like California’s Age Appropriate Design Code impose similar obligations. Meanwhile, Roblox is increasingly competing with Fortnite and Steam for older audiences—demographics that generate higher per-user revenue.
“Roblox has a kid-safety reputation that’s both an asset and a liability,” noted Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management. “They want access to mature content without becoming the next Omegle safety scandal.” The platform hosts an estimated 79 million daily users, with average session times exceeding 150 minutes—making it one of the stickiest platforms in gaming.
What Are the Privacy Concerns?
Civil liberties groups have raised alarms about normalizing facial scanning for everyday activities. “Even if Roblox handles data responsibly today, creating the expectation that face scans are normal for gaming is concerning,” said Jay Stanley, senior policy analyst at the ACLU. “That infrastructure can be repurposed.” Roblox counters that the face scan is optional and processes occur on-device for iPhone users, though Android and desktop implementations send images to Yoti’s servers.
The accuracy questions are also significant. Yoti’s published research shows age estimation works best at the extremes—accurately distinguishing 10-year-olds from 30-year-olds—but performs worse in the critical 14-18 range where content restrictions actually matter. For a 16-year-old, the system might estimate anywhere from 13-20, creating both false positives and false negatives.
Platforms/Technologies Mentioned
- Roblox – Gaming platform with 79M daily users, $2.8B annual revenue (2025), 58% of engagement hours from users 13+.
- Yoti – UK-based digital identity company, provides age estimation AI to 500+ companies, claims 98% accuracy for extreme age groups.
- Veriff – Estonian identity verification company, processes government ID verification for Roblox’s alternative verification path.
- Fortnite (Epic Games) – Primary competitor, uses parental controls rather than age verification, 70M monthly players.
What This Means
- For parents: Age verification unlocks 17+ experiences your kids shouldn’t see. If your child plays Roblox, check their account settings—unverified accounts are limited to age-appropriate content by default.
- For adult Roblox users: Verification takes 30 seconds via the app. Once verified, you’ll see “Mature” tagged experiences that were previously hidden. The face scan option is fastest if you’re uncomfortable sharing ID.
- For game developers: This creates a new distribution tier for mature content on Roblox. Experiences targeting 17+ audiences can now include romance elements, mild violence, and other previously prohibited content.
- For the gaming industry: Expect other platforms to follow. Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox are all facing similar regulatory pressure. Roblox’s implementation will likely influence industry-wide standards.
Source: techcrunch.com
Disclosure: Trending Society provides tech analysis for informational purposes. Not financial or investment advice.
