Roblox is launching new age-verification features in Australia, asserting that its platform should not be subject to the country's impending ban on social media for under-16s. The gaming giant is introducing voluntary age-estimation technology to restrict how teenagers and children can communicate with users outside their age group.
New Age Assurance Technology Rollout
From Wednesday, Roblox users in Australia will be able to voluntarily have their age estimated using Persona age estimation technology built directly into the app. The system will access the user's device camera to take a live facial scan and estimate their age based on facial features.
This feature will become mandatory in Australia, the Netherlands and New Zealand from the first week of December, with a global rollout to all other markets scheduled for early January.
Once verified, users will be assigned to one of six age brackets: under 9, 9-12, 13-15, 16-17, 18-20 or 21+. The platform will then restrict chat functions so users can only communicate with peers in their own or similar age groups.
Debate Over Social Media Classification
The changes come as Australia prepares to implement its under-16s social media ban on 10 December. While gaming platforms are currently exempt, Roblox's chat functionality has drawn scrutiny from regulators.
Matt Kaufman, Roblox's chief safety officer, firmly stated that the platform should not be classified as social media under the new law. He described Roblox as an 'immersive gaming platform' where games serve as 'scaffolding for social interaction'.
'Roblox is two friends coming home after school and playing a game together. That is not social media,' Kaufman told Australian journalists. He contrasted this with traditional social media platforms focused on content feeds and 'fear of missing out'.
Safety Concerns and Regulatory Pressure
The Australian eSafety commissioner has been in negotiations with Roblox for several months regarding safety concerns. A Guardian Australia investigation this month documented instances of virtual sexual harassment and violence experienced by a user profile set up as an eight-year-old.
Despite the platform's arguments, experts and MPs have called for Roblox to be included in the social media ban due to its extensive chat and messaging features.
Julie Inman Grant, the eSafety commissioner, noted earlier this month that regulators had carefully considered the game's chat functionality, suggesting that if the gaming element were removed, children probably wouldn't use the messaging features alone.
When questioned whether the new age verification features were offered to avoid inclusion in the ban, Kaufman described the dialogue with eSafety as 'constructive' and noted that Roblox now provides the regulator with the largest example of a platform using age estimation for its entire user base.
Accuracy and Data Privacy Concerns
The Persona technology participated in Australia's age assurance technology trial, which revealed concerning accuracy rates. The trial showed a 61.11% false positive rate for 15-year-olds who were incorrectly identified as 16, and a 44.25% rate for 14-year-olds.
Kaufman acknowledged the technology's margin of error, stating it's accurate within one-to-two years. Users who disagree with their age estimation can correct it using government ID or parental controls. The company has strict requirements to delete verification data once age is confirmed, though ID images are retained for 30 days for fraud detection purposes.
Users who choose not to undergo age verification will still be able to access Roblox but will be restricted from using chat features and other communication tools.
Roblox boasts more than 150 million daily users across 180 countries, with Kaufman noting that two-thirds of its user base is over 13 years old.
