Roblox pledges new child safety measures after regulator findings
Australian watchdog found adults could still contact children on the platform despite safety upgrades.
1Regulator's findings
Australia's eSafety commissioner discovered that adults on Roblox could still send connection requests to children and interact on community forums without parental consent. The investigation also revealed that underage users' profiles, connections, and personal information remained publicly visible. These findings highlight persistent safety gaps despite the platform's two-year effort to enhance protections, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current measures.
2Age verification rollout
Roblox implemented mandatory age verification starting in Australia in late 2025, though initial attempts by children to bypass the system were reported. The company maintained confidence in its technology. In the US, age verification became required for accessing chat features. By mid-May, the platform categorized users into three tiers: Kids (restricted content), Select (limited communication), and regular accounts, with the system going global in June.
3New account tiers
Roblox's global safety update introduced strict age-based account classifications. Kids accounts can only access games rated Minimal or Mild, with chat disabled by default and comprehensive parental controls. Select accounts have restricted communication features, while regular accounts maintain full platform access. This tiered system aims to create safer digital environments for younger users while preserving functionality for older players.
4Legal commitments
Under a court-enforceable undertaking with eSafety, Roblox agreed to implement enhanced safety measures within three months. Key changes include preventing adult-child contact without parental approval, making child accounts private by default, and improving reporting tools. An independent auditor will evaluate the effectiveness of these measures. Failure to comply could result in court-ordered enforcement actions.
5US legal developments
Roblox settled with Nevada for $12 million while agreeing to implement stricter age verification requiring government IDs or facial age estimation (currently only one method is required). The platform also committed to blocking under-16 users from messaging adults unless designated as 'trusted friends' via QR code. These changes reflect growing regulatory pressure on platforms hosting young users.
6Historical safety issues
Child safety concerns have plagued Roblox for years, with multiple US states filing lawsuits. While the company believes it complies with the Online Safety Act, eSafety's recent report identified significant vulnerabilities. This ongoing struggle illustrates the complex challenge of protecting children in immersive virtual environments, where social features create potential risks despite content moderation efforts.
7Global implications
With over 200 million monthly active users, Roblox's policy changes set important precedents for child safety in digital spaces. Australia's regulatory action may inspire similar measures worldwide, particularly regarding age verification standards. As governments increase scrutiny of online platforms, Roblox's case demonstrates how national regulations can drive global platform governance changes.
8Industry lessons
The Roblox case underscores that technical solutions alone cannot ensure child safety in digital environments. Continuous monitoring, transparent reporting, and independent audits emerge as critical components of effective protection. Platforms must adopt proactive safety-by-design approaches and collaborate with regulators to build sustainable trust, especially when serving vulnerable user groups like children.