Roblox is rolling out new “Kids” and “Select” account tiers to enforce age-appropriate access to games and chat, responding to mounting pressure regarding child safety on its platform.
Stricter Developer Verification Standards
The platform’s safety initiative begins with a mandatory developer verification process. To qualify for inclusion in the “Roblox Kids” or “Roblox Select” ecosystems, developers must meet rigorous eligibility criteria. Creators under the age of 16 are required to complete ID verification or maintain a link to a parent’s account. Furthermore, all developer accounts must have two-step verification enabled to ensure platform integrity.
Additionally, developers must maintain an active Roblox Plus subscription. Roblox Plus, which debuted last week at $4.99 per month, provides exclusive perks and discounts on avatars and in-game items. Notably, the legacy Roblox Premium subscription will cease accepting new sign-ups effective April 30.
Advanced Evaluation and Content Moderation
Beyond account verification, Roblox is implementing a real-time evaluation protocol for all titles. Games will be vetted by users aged 16 and older, who provide feedback and reports to help assess the experience before it is cleared for younger audiences. The company is also leveraging its multimodal moderation system to scan for policy violations automatically.
To finalize the process, all games must satisfy specific gameplay criteria and possess an appropriate content maturity label to be accessible to younger users.
Addressing Legal and Safety Scrutiny
These structural changes arrive amidst a surge of legal challenges, including lawsuits from the attorneys general of Louisiana and Texas, centered on child safety concerns. These legal actions were initiated following reports highlighting that Roblox was exposing young users to significant risks, including grooming and explicit content.
