Roblox announces measures to strengthen protections for minors

Summary:

Roblox has introduced new safety features targeting users under 18, including stricter parental controls and AI-powered content filtering. These updates respond to growing concerns about predatory behavior, accidental exposure to mature content, and unauthorized purchases. Common triggers include unrestricted chat functions, weak age verification, and inconsistent moderation in user-generated games. The platform now requires parental consent for certain social features and restricts voice chat to age-verified users 13+.

What This Means for You:

• Impact: Kids may bypass protections if accounts have inaccurate birth dates
• Fix: Verify age settings in Account > Privacy immediately
• Security: Delete stored payment methods after purchases
• Warning: Scammers impersonate “Roblox Safety Teams” via DM – never share codes

Solutions:

Solution 1: Enforce Age-Restricted Access

Roblox now requires formal ID verification for users claiming to be 13+. Navigate to Account Settings > ID Verification and upload a government-issued ID or school document. Verified accounts gain access to filtered chat while unsupervised accounts under 13 get full chat restrictions.

For kids under 18, activate “Account Restrictions”:

Settings → Security → Enable Account Restrictions

This blocks user-generated games not vetted by Roblox moderators and disables private messaging.

Solution 2: Activate Monthly Spending Limits

Prevent unauthorized Robux purchases via parental controls. Set custom spending caps by linking your credit card to the “Parental Controls” dashboard:

Privacy → Parental Controls → Monthly Spending Limit ($0-$200)

New “Request-to-Buy” requires push notification approval for purchases exceeding your limit. Transaction histories now show item previews – screenshot suspicious activity.

Solution 3: Filter Mature Content

Roblox’s upgraded AI detects 79% more explicit content in games and avatars. Force-enable content filters regardless of age setting:

Settings → Privacy → Content Restrictions → "Strict" Filtering

Supplement with keyword blocks – add terms like “dm me” or “free Robux” to phrase blocklists. Moderators now review games with #ForYou tags favored by groomers.

Solution 4: Monitor Social Activity

The new “Safety Hub” provides weekly reports showing:

• Friends added/removed
• Chat message volume
• Playtime by game genre

Enable login notifications for unrecognized devices. Review “Recent Interactions” weekly for suspicious accounts – report users who attempt off-platform contact.

People Also Ask:

• Q: Can strangers message my child on Roblox? A: Only if Chat Permissions are set to “Everyone” (default: “Friends”)
• Q: How does Roblox verify age? A: Through ID scanning with Yoti (no data stored)
• Q: What if my kid lied about their age? A: Contact support@roblox.com with birth certificate
• Q: Are Roblox voice chats safe? A: Only available to ID-verified users 13+ and recorded

Protect Yourself:

• Create parent account to oversee kids via Parent Dashboard
• Disable Ad Tracking in Privacy → Data Privacy to limit behavioral ads
• Bookmark official support (avoid “Roblox Support” .info scam sites)
• Use two-step verification with authenticator apps, not SMS

Expert Take:

“These updates finally address root vulnerabilities,” says child safety researcher Dr. Elizabeth Myers. “Requiring confirmed parental consent for social features mirrors EU’s Age-Appropriate Design Code – a global precedent.”

Tags:

• roblox child safety settings 2023
• prevent strangers messaging kids Roblox
• Roblox under 13 privacy restrictions
• disable voice chat Roblox minor
• Roblox spending limits parental controls
• report inappropriate Roblox game tutorial

*Featured image via source