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<\/p>\nRoblox is rolling out a new security feature aimed at protecting children who play and chat with strangers online, requiring users to complete a facial age check before accessing communication tools on the platform.<\/p>\n
The move comes as parents increasingly worry about who their kids may be talking to while gaming. Roblox says the new system will help ensure children are only interacting with other users their own age.<\/p>\n
Cristian and Elijah, two young cousins from San Diego, spend plenty of time playing baseball \u2014 and just as much time gaming online. Like many kids their age, Roblox is one of their go-to platforms.<\/p>\n
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Cristian, 8, and Elijah, 11, are a couple of ballplayers who also enjoy gaming online.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy favorite team is the Padres, and my favorite player is Fernando Tat\u00eds Jr.,\u201d Elijah said.<\/p>\n
Off the field, gaming has become a part of their routine.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been gaming for a long time,\u201d Cristian said. \u201cSomewhere around last year, I got a Nintendo Switch, which was very cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cristian says he recently started playing Roblox. It’s what he considers the “big leagues” when it comes to gaming.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I started playing Roblox is during my birthday because I\u2019m getting older, and Roblox is for an older kid,\u201d he said with a proud smile of how far he’s come.<\/p>\n
Their grandmother, Alejandra Abraham, explained how much she enjoys watching the boys share their gaming accomplishments with her. It helps her stay involved.<\/p>\n
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Alejandra Abraham says her grandkids just started playing Roblox, but with tons of restrictions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey tell me, \u2018Abue, look at the way I do that. Now, look at this, how I do that. And now look at this,'” she said, adding that the boys’ parents are also very limiting and vigilant when it comes to gaming.<\/p>\n
Like many parents and caregivers, the family restricts online chats because of concerns over who kids may encounter.<\/p>\n
Eliza Jacobs, a spokesperson for Roblox, said the company is now requiring facial age verification worldwide for users who want to communicate on the platform.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are announcing that all users on the platform globally will need to complete a facial age check process in order to access any communication features on the platform,\u201d Jacobs said. \u201cIt will estimate your age, and then we\u2019ll put that user in the right set of defaults and settings so that they can have an age-appropriate experience on the platform. And then we\u2019ll immediately delete the images once we\u2019ve done that.”<\/p>\n
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Roblox’s new chat guidelines.<\/p>\n
She acknowledged that no system is perfect and said this is why Roblox has additional safeguards in place.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we detect any reason to believe that the person who completed that check isn\u2019t the person actually using that account, we\u2019ll do it again. We\u2019ll throw additional checks in there to really make sure that we have the right information and the right user has verified on that account,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
Jacobs also emphasized that parental involvement remains essential and encouraged families to use the platform\u2019s built-in controls.<\/p>\n