Roblox is an insanely popular online game with over a million players active at any given time. An age verification system was introduced today for a good purpose.
Roblox‘s appeal to a wide variety of audiences continues to reach even higher highs with an announcement that “nearly 50% of the users on our platform are over the age of 13 as of Q2 2021,” its website says. With this older fan base, a division between kids and adults is the next move for the massive creator-friendly game.
As announced earlier in the year, Roblox revealed a limited beta for a spatial voice feature that allowed for more lifelike interactions between players on the server. With a new lifelike interaction feature, Roblox notably adjusted accordingly with the age verification feature.
The age verification comes in a two-part system that will assure an identity match. The first step would be the scan and upload of a user’s photo ID. The second is a selfie that will be thrown into an algorithm to match the facial similarities. This two-step process will allow fans to have a safe space to go online, and, more importantly, generate a community where age-appropriate materials will be enforced. Parents rejoice! The verified status will not only protect users but show others that creators on the platform are genuinely who they say they are.
It’s worth noting that privacy is a huge priority for Roblox, as their website says “Roblox does not store raw ID document nor the selfie data. When a government-issued ID is scanned for verification, an anonymised value is generated, allowing Roblox to safely verify identity without risking exposure of the user’s real identity.”
The age verification system rolled out on September 21 and aims to become a more global feature over the coming weeks to assure user safety and appropriate exposure. Users wishing to verify themselves right away can go here.
