Roblox Will Require Facial Recognition Age Verification to Unlock Chat Features Worldwide

Roblox has announced a major shift in its safety and communication policies, confirming that facial recognition–based age verification will soon be required for users to unlock chat functionality.

Beginning in the first week of December, the requirement will roll out in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands, with global enforcement expanding across all regions where chat is available in early 2026. Users will need to complete a Facial Age Estimation process or submit formal ID verification to maintain access to communication features. Roblox describes this update as a step toward establishing a new industry safety standard, emphasizing that it is designed to limit communication between minors and adults and provide better age appropriate interactions for all users.

According to the company, “All users can now voluntarily go through the Facial Age Estimation process to secure their access to communication features. During the first week of December, we will begin enforcing the age check requirement in select markets including Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. Those requirements will extend to the rest of the world wherever chat is available in early January.” Roblox asserts that this innovation supports age based chat and reduces the likelihood of adults interacting with minors outside approved or verified relationships.

This move places Roblox alongside other major platforms adopting similar systems, most notably Discord, which recently required facial recognition age verification for UK based users following new legislation. However, Discord’s implementation was quickly shown to be vulnerable, as users found that showing a photograph from Death Stranding’s photo mode could bypass the system, as documented by PC Gamer

Roblox acknowledges that no verification system is perfect but states that the broader industry has evolved from simple self declared age inputs to more sophisticated behavioral and technological approaches. The company believes its system represents the next major step in age assurance. Once users complete the age check, communication will be restricted to peers within similar age groups unless they have established Trusted Connections with people they know offline.

The initiative is presented as a way to create more age appropriate environments for both younger and older users while reducing exposure to inappropriate interactions. Roblox argues that these new controls will lead to safer, more meaningful communication and enrich community engagement across the platform’s vast global audience.

How do you feel about facial recognition requirements for chat access? Is this necessary for safety, or does it raise new concerns? Share your thoughts with us.