Roblox’s Age-Verified Chat Rules Prompt In-Game Protests, Misplaced Attacks on Felca

Overview

• Roblox rolled out global age checks in January after December tests in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands, grouping users into six age brackets for chat access.
• Chat is off by default for children under 9 unless a guardian authorizes it, and adults are barred from chatting with younger users under the new age-segmentation rules.
• Players staged large virtual demonstrations on January 14–15 using in-game signs, with screenshots and videos spreading widely on X and TikTok.
• Influencer Felca reported receiving threats from users who wrongly blamed him for the policy, though coverage clarifies he had no role in the company’s decision.
• Roblox defends the measures as child-safety safeguards, says facial images used for verification are deleted after review, and notes users can appeal misclassification; the debate in Brazil also references the recently approved ‘Lei Felca’ on online child protection.