New Safety Measures for Roblox Users Under 13

(Reuters) – Video game maker Roblox announced on Monday that it is implementing new safety measures for users under the age of 13. This includes permanently removing the ability to message others outside of games on its platform.

However, under-13 users can still message others in-game but require parental consent.

The gaming platform, which reported around 89 million users last quarter, stated that it will allow parents and caregivers to remotely manage their child's Roblox account. This includes the ability to view friend lists, set spending controls, and manage screen time.

Roblox has faced accusations of child abuse occurring on its platform.

In August, Turkey blocked access to Roblox following a court order as prosecutors investigated concerns regarding user-generated content that could lead to abuse.

A 2022 lawsuit filed in San Francisco alleged that Roblox facilitated the sexual and financial exploitation of a California girl by adult men, which allegedly encouraged her to drink, abuse prescription drugs, and share sexually explicit photos.

To enhance safety, the company introduced a built-in setting allowing users under 13 to access public broadcast messages only within games or experiences.

Roblox will replace age-based content labels with new descriptors ranging from "Minimal" to "Restricted," clarifying the type of content users can expect. By default, users under nine will only be able to access games labeled as "Minimal" or "Mild."

Furthermore, new restrictions will prevent users under 13 from searching, discovering, or playing unlabeled experiences. Restricted content will remain inaccessible until a user is at least 17 years old and has verified their age.