Roblox has announced a new safety measure that will require all users to complete a facial age‑estimation check before they can access any chat features on the platform. The policy will roll out in the first week of December 2025 in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands, with a global implementation scheduled for early January 2026. The check is voluntary at launch, but chat will be disabled for users who do not complete it, and chat within experiences will default to off for users under nine unless a parent consents after an age check.
The move comes amid mounting regulatory scrutiny and a series of lawsuits alleging that Roblox failed to protect minors from adult contact. By making age verification mandatory for chat, Roblox aims to reduce the risk of inappropriate interactions and position itself as a leader in online safety. The company’s Chief Safety Officer, Matt Kaufman, said the system can estimate a person’s age within one or two years for users aged five to twenty‑five, and offers ID verification or parental consent for discrepancies. This proactive stance is intended to set a new industry standard for child protection on social‑gaming platforms.
Roblox’s user base is large and growing: the company reported 79.5 million daily active users and 380 million monthly active users in Q3 2025, while a November 2025 survey found 151 million daily average users. The new policy could affect engagement for younger players, but the company expects the safety benefits to outweigh any short‑term dip in chat activity. Management has indicated that the policy will not materially harm overall user growth, citing strong demand in core segments and a robust developer ecosystem.
Financially, Roblox posted Q3 2025 revenue of $1.36 billion, a 48% year‑over‑year increase, and bookings of $1.92 billion, up 70% year‑over‑year. Earnings per share were $‑0.37, beating the consensus estimate of $‑0.49 by $0.12. The beat was driven by disciplined cost management and a favorable mix of high‑margin developer exchange and advertising revenue, offsetting a modest decline in lower‑margin user‑generated content sales. However, the company forecast margin compression in 2026 as it ramps up spending on safety, infrastructure, and developer tools, a factor that has tempered investor enthusiasm.
The policy’s rollout is expected to mitigate legal and regulatory headwinds, potentially reducing future litigation costs and improving brand trust among parents. At the same time, the company acknowledges that mandatory age checks may limit chat usage for some younger users, which could modestly impact time‑on‑platform metrics. Management views the trade‑off as a strategic investment in long‑term sustainability and a signal to regulators that Roblox is committed to child safety.
The announcement has not yet triggered a market reaction, but analysts note that investors are closely watching the company’s guidance on margin compression. The policy is seen as a tailwind for Roblox’s reputation, while the associated costs and potential engagement impact are considered headwinds. Overall, the move positions Roblox to better navigate regulatory environments and may set a benchmark for other platforms seeking to enhance safety for minors.
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