Roblox just revealed the tech powering its controversial age verification push - and it's more invasive than a simple selfie check. The gaming giant disclosed that 45% of daily active users completed facial verification as of January 31, but the real story is what happens next. Behind the scenes, continuous AI systems track everything from typing patterns to emoji placement, hunting for signs that someone's gaming the system after multiple lawsuits forced the company to crack down on child safety risks.
Roblox is betting its future on knowing exactly how old you are - and it's deploying some surprisingly sophisticated AI to make sure you're not lying. A month after mandating facial verification for platform chat access, the gaming company revealed that nearly half its daily users have submitted to the checks. But the verification doesn't stop once you pass the selfie test.
The numbers tell a story Roblox knew was coming. Of the 45% who've verified as of January 31, age-checked data skews younger than what users previously reported themselves. The breakdown: 35% under 13, 38% between 13-17, and just 27% over 18. For a platform that's faced mounting scrutiny over child safety, that's not exactly reassuring - but at least it's honest.
This transparency offensive comes after a brutal stretch for Roblox. Attorneys general from Texas, Kentucky, and Louisiana filed lawsuits alleging the company exposed kids to grooming and explicit content. Bloomberg's investigation and a scathing Hindenburg Research report painted a damning picture of systematic safety failures. The age verification rollout was Roblox's attempt to show regulators it's taking action.
