Roblox Implements Age-Based Accounts and Enhanced Parental Controls Globally

Roblox Corporation (https://www.roblox.com/) (NYSE: RBLX) has announced the global rollout of its new age-based account system, featuring “Roblox Kids” and “Roblox Select” accounts. These new categories are designed to offer age-appropriate experiences for users under 16, with protections that adapt as children mature, alongside expanded parental controls.

The global launch follows a limited market introduction last month in Australia, Indonesia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. The system categorizes users based on age-check systems, aligning game access, chat features, and parental oversight with a user’s developmental stage. Age-checked users under 16 will retain access to most existing games, while the experience for those 16 and older remains unchanged.

Matt Kaufman, Chief Safety Officer at Roblox, stated, “Children’s needs change significantly as they grow, and online experiences should adapt alongside them. With Roblox Kids and Roblox Select, we are implementing age-based protections designed to support younger users at different stages, while providing parents with tools to customize the experience for their family.”

Account Tiers and Protections

The new account system includes two primary tiers for younger users:

* **Roblox Kids Accounts (Ages 5-8):** These accounts feature the platform’s most stringent default protections. Users can access a curated catalog of games with “Minimal” or “Mild” content maturity labels, which have undergone Roblox’s selection process. Chat functionality is disabled by default for this group.
* **Roblox Select Accounts (Ages 9-15):** Users in this category can access games rated up to “Moderate” content maturity, also subject to Roblox’s selection process. Chat settings vary by age and region, with additional safeguards in place for all users under 16.

For both account types, Roblox applies additional review standards to available games, including developer verification, real-time evaluation, and enhanced content review. These catalogs specifically exclude games with sensitive themes, social hangout features, and free-form drawing. As users age, the system automatically transitions them: from Roblox Kids to Roblox Select at age 9, and from Roblox Select to standard Roblox accounts at age 16.

Expanded Parental Controls and Future Initiatives

Roblox is also enhancing its parental control features. Parents who link their accounts to their children’s already have access to oversight tools for gameplay activity, friend lists, content ratings, communication settings, screen time, and spending limits. The new rollout extends certain controls until a child reaches 16, including granular game blocking and direct chat management. A new game approval feature allows parents to grant access to specific games outside their child’s default account settings.

Vineeta Garg, IT Head at SRDAV Public School and a member of Roblox’s Global Parent Council, commented on the development: “As an educator and parent advocate, I recognize the importance of Roblox’s age-based accounts, which acknowledge that children’s online needs evolve. The introduction of Roblox Kids and Roblox Select represents an important step toward creating more age-appropriate digital experiences while providing parents with greater visibility and control. In a country like India, where online engagement among children is increasing, equipping families with practical tools and transparency is crucial for supporting safer and more positive digital experiences.”

This initiative builds on Roblox’s broader commitment to fostering age-appropriate online environments, including its requirement for facial age checks to access chat features. Once fully implemented, users who have not completed an age check will be unable to access standard Roblox accounts or utilize chat features, regardless of age.

Additionally, Roblox will prohibit users under 16 from sharing or viewing social media links on user profiles, game detail pages, Community pages, or the Creator Hub later this month. The platform also plans to transition to the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) framework later this year, a globally recognized standard for assigning content ratings to digital games and applications, further strengthening its commitment to user safety and providing transparent information on content suitability across various gaming industry developments (https://technosports.co.in/).