Mounting legal pressure and millions of dollars in fees are forcing Roblox to change how they restrict chat features for children. Online safety, especially when it revolves around kids, has been a hot button topic for parents for years. This trend shows no sign of stopping, either, as Roblox continues to face criticism by not doing enough to protect kids.

What’s happened so far

Just last week, the Alabama Attorney General, Steve Marshall announced a settlement with Roblox to the tune of $12.2 million! West Virginia also settled for $11 million shortly thereafter. Before that it was Nevada, AG who secured another $12 million from the online game.

From only these three cases, totaling just north of $35 million, it’s clear that the local governments have one thing in mind when it comes to Roblox: the company is not doing enough to protect kids.

What does Roblox have to do?

Roblox now has to run age checks on everyone via facial age estimation technology starting today. They can also use a government-issued ID in lieu of the face recognition tech. Importantly, this applies both to new as well as existing accounts.

The company must also monitor accounts which are suspected to have lied about their age.

Age-based chat restrictions

Any accounts that have been flagged as an “under-16” will not be able to talk with an “adult” account unless both of them have added one another to a “trusted friends” list. This list is created via a QR code or by importing a phone contact directly into the app. 

Any accounts that fail to complete the age verification step mentioned earlier will not be eligible to even chat with anyone.

Unencrypted chats for minors

The chats on minors’ accounts are also no longer allowed to be encrypted. While this sounds sketchy at first, it’s actually a practical measure so that law enforcement can easily investigate any of these for reported activity.

Another practical application of this is that Roblox is being required to notify minor-flagged accounts every time they enter a “private” chat. This should hopefully assist more children to know what they are getting into and encourage them to communicate more safely.

How to stay alert as a parent

If your children have played, are currently playing, or want to jump into playing Roblox, here’s what you need to be aware of as a parent:

• Help them complete the age verification in order to correctly flag their account as a “minor”.
• Talk with them about the dangers of online chat rooms, private chats, and predators.
• Educate them on the warning signs and how to be vigilant.
• Remind them that they can talk with you about anything that makes them uncomfortable online.
• Do your best to create a safe place where kids can turn if they need help.
• If you’re worried something has already occurred, we recommend contacting your local law enforcement.

iDefend can help

As part of our Total Security plan for families, we provide parents with resources, tools, and strategies to facilitate these conversations, protect your children, and keep them safe while gaming online. 

Give us a call today (801-692-6200) and speak with one of our iDefend Advisors for free. They’ll make sure to get you the best deal possible and help you find the perfect match for your family’s situation.