Roblox, the popular gaming platform, has revamped the way it will handle player communications, particularly for those under 18.
As detailed in a blog post, the company says it’s changing “Friends” to “Connections” across the platform and is launching new tools to estimate a player’s age via a video selfie. That age verification, for those 13 to 17, will unlock a feature called “Trusted Connections” that allows for less filtered text or voice chat. Those who aren’t able to verify their age with the selfie tool will have the option to confirm it with an ID or in the future with parental consent, but the company did not say when that option would be available.
Teens 13 to 17 will only be able to add people 18 and older as friends if they’re eligible to access Trusted Connections, and only if they know them in real life — as verified with a QR code or a contact importer tool — Roblox says.
Other changes include more tools to manage notifications, screen time and privacy, as well as additional tools for parents to monitor their teen’s Roblox usage such as money spent or the amount of time they’re spending on the platform.
The changes are part of a longer-term effort by Roblox to make its platform safer for younger players. Last year, Roblox added more parental controls and monitoring as well as content labels within its virtual worlds. The platform has been plagued with predators targeting children and instances of illegal gambling.
How these changes will affect players
For those who are 18 or older, the changes should be minimal, although it’s possible some users will be asked to verify their age even if they’re older then the 13 to 17 age range. For parents, there should be more options to monitor their kids’ use of the platform.
While some of the changes appear to be happening immediately, such as the introduction of Connections, other features may take longer to implement, including the option for parental consent for those 13 to 17.
