Overview
- Roblox now requires a facial video selfie processed by Persona, with an optional government ID for users 13 and older, to unlock chat that is restricted to narrow age bands.
- Reports show adults labeled as minors and children classified as adults, with users spoofing the system using avatars, celebrity photos, or marker-drawn facial hair.
- WIRED found age‑verified child accounts advertised on eBay for as little as $4, and eBay said it removed the listings after being alerted.
- Developers and players report steep declines in chat activity—one game’s usage dropped from roughly 85–90 percent to about 36 percent—and forums are filled with calls to reverse the update.
- Roblox says tens of millions have verified and over 50 percent did so in early test regions, acknowledges parents age‑checking for children that can set accounts to 21+, and plans periodic rechecks when fraud is suspected; the rollout now includes India.