Roblox Introduces Selfie-Based Age Check for Teen Users

Roblox has announced three major features: Trusted Connections, Age Estimation, and new Parent/Teen Insights. These changes should alleviate some of the concerns parents and authorities have had regarding the protections for minors.

If you have ever wondered who your kid is talking to in Roblox, or you simply thought it had to be other kids, you might have been mistaken. Fortunately, the Roblox developers are finally addressing age-related problems, among other things.

What’s New?

Roblox is removing the old “Friends” list and replacing it with Connections. This will let the platform distinguish between “people you met while playing” and people you actually know in real life, which will be verified via a QR scan or imported contacts.

For teens ages 13 to 17, if you pass that verification, you become part of the new Trusted Connections circle. If you’re under 13, these features simply don’t apply.

Age Estimation is the next big thing in Roblox. Instead of relying solely on self-reported ages, which allowed all kinds of abuses, such as kids claiming to be older or adults claiming to be kids, Roblox will now ask teens who want full chat privileges to submit a short video selfie.

This simple step will help the platform estimate whether the user is 13 or older. Roblox says biometric data isn’t stored for long-term use and is only used to unlock features, not to build a surveillance profile.

Privacy and well-being tools are also getting an update. Teens can hide their online status, enable “Do Not Disturb” during study or sleep, and see how much time they spend in-game.

On the other hand, parents (with their teenager’s permission) can link to their teen’s account and access a summary: who they’re connected with, what they’re playing most, and how much they’re spending.

Why It Matters

It’s easy to think of Roblox as a game, but it’s more akin to a social media tool. It’s a social network, a chat room and a marketplace – all in one.

By requiring real-world verification for trusted chats and adding age checks, Roblox is moving to plug a major gap. It doesn’t make the platform bulletproof, but it covers many of the issues raised by parents and authorities over time.

What You Should Do Today

For Parents:

• Link your account and take a look at the Connections list together.
• Ask yourself these simple questions: “Do I recognise most of these people? Would I meet them outside Roblox?”
• Use the screen-time and spending dashboards not as tools of surveillance, but as something to talk with the kids: “Hey, what are you playing the most? Who are you chatting with?”

For Teens:

• Before you say yes to a connection, ask yourself: “Do I know this person outside Roblox? Would I share my Snapchat or phone number with them?”
• Use the Do Not Disturb mode when you’re doing schoolwork or sleeping. And if the platform asks you for a selfie or ID for age verification, talk with your parents to understand why that is happening.

FAQ: Quick answers

Do all users need to submit selfies now?

No, only those who want to unlock the full chat and voice features for 13+ connections.

What about kids under 13?

They’re still protected by Roblox’s stricter chat rules and cannot access Trusted Connections.

Is the selfie safe?

Roblox says they don’t store biometric data long-term. Its purpose is to verify age, not to build a profile.

Does this mean chats are now safe by default?

Not quite. The features significantly reduce risk, but no tool replaces good judgment and open conversation.