Talking with Thalia
Are Our Kids Safe on Roblox? What Parents Need to Know
Talking with Thalia: As online gaming becomes a central part of how kids socialize, many parents are left wondering how safe these digital spaces really are. With more than 150 million daily active users, Roblox is taking a major step to address those concerns by becoming the first major gaming platform to require facial age checks for users who want to access chat features.
Thalia Hayden sat down with Eliza Jacobs, Senior Director of Product Policy at Roblox, to break down what these changes mean for families. Jacobs explains that all users—regardless of age—must now complete a facial age verification process to communicate on the platform. The goal is to ensure children are grouped with peers close to their own age and automatically placed into age-appropriate settings, including chat permissions and game access.
Roblox says more than 20 million users have already completed the mandatory age checks. According to Jacobs, the technology only confirms age, does not store images, and immediately deletes facial data after verification. Parents can also link their own accounts to their child’s account, giving them access to robust parental controls, including who their child can talk to, what games they can play, screen time limits, and spending limits.
Jacobs encourages parents to be actively involved—by setting up their own Roblox account and even playing alongside their kids—to better understand their child’s digital world and keep communication open. For families seeking more guidance, Roblox directs parents to its Safety Center, which offers step-by-step resources on parental controls, age checks, and online safety conversations.
As concerns about online safety continue to grow, Roblox says these updates represent a significant milestone in its ongoing effort to create a safer, more transparent gaming environment for young players.
By: Thalia Hayden
January 9, 2026
Roblox safetykids online gamingparental controlsfacial age verificationchild internet safetyonline chat safetygaming and kidsRoblox age checksdigital parentingonline privacyTHALIA HAYDEN
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