Roblox's new AI-powered age verification system, aimed at curbing child predators on the platform, is facing significant issues just days after launch. Reports indicate misclassifications of users' ages and easy workarounds by children, while developers complain of reduced engagement. The system was introduced amid lawsuits and investigations into safety concerns.
Roblox implemented mandatory age verification last week for users accessing the platform's chat feature, following allegations of child predators grooming young players. The process requires either a facial age estimate via selfie or, for those 13 and older, a government ID upload. Verified users can only chat with players in similar age groups.
This measure responds to growing reports of predatory behavior, prompting lawsuits from states including Louisiana, Texas, and Kentucky. Florida's attorney general has issued criminal subpoenas related to the issue. Roblox's survival may hinge on effectively addressing these safety concerns.
However, the system has faltered from the start. According to Wired, it has misidentified adults as children and vice versa. A 23-year-old was classified as 16 to 17 years old, prompting the user to say, "I don't want to be chatting with fucking children." An 18-year-old was placed in the 13- to 15-year-old range.
Children have also bypassed the selfie verification easily. Online videos show one kid drawing wrinkles and stubble on their face to be deemed 21 or older. Another used a photo of Kurt Cobain to gain an adult classification. Additionally, some parents have submitted their own age checks for children, resulting in kids being assigned to the 21+ category. Roblox stated it is "working on solutions to address" this and will provide updates soon.
Developers are voicing strong dissatisfaction on the platform's forum, with thousands of negative comments calling for the update's reversal. Chat usage has plummeted from around 90 percent to 36.5 percent. Some describe games as feeling "lifeless" or like a "total ghost town," highlighting the challenge of balancing safety with user experience.
