Roblox launches Kids and Select accounts globally with new parental controls and age ratings

Roblox’s digital universe is undergoing a significant expansion with the worldwide availability of Roblox Kids and Roblox Select accounts, introducing strict age classifications and selected profile options. The measure aims to improve security and offer an experience adapted to the development of each child and adolescent on the platform.

These accounts are designed to grow with young users, granting them greater digital autonomy as they mature, while also providing parents with comprehensive tools to monitor and control the gaming environment. The launch reflects an ongoing effort by Roblox to create a secure and customizable ecosystem.

The platform now offers three distinct types of accounts: Roblox Kids, Roblox Select and Roblox (for users aged 16 and over), each with different access levels and predefined security settings.

Protection and management for Kids and Select profiles

Roblox Kids and Roblox Select accounts were rolled out globally today, establishing direct alignment between user age and available games and features. This initiative integrates additional analytics for content accessible to users under the age of 16, ensuring a safer environment.

More on this story: New Roblox Kids and Select categories arrive globally with improved parental controls

For children under 9 years old, the chat functionality remains disabled by default. Participation in chats for other age groups requires age verification, and parents have the flexibility to adjust default communication settings for their children until they reach 16.

With the global launch, which follows an initial phase of implementation in Australia, Indonesia, the Netherlands and New Zealand, users are automatically directed to the account appropriate to their age group. The vast majority of popular games and new titles will be available to Kids and Select users, including hits like *Driving Empire* and *Grow a Garden* in the United States.

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Roblox’s philosophy is to allow the platform to evolve alongside its users, gradually cultivating digital independence. Roblox Kids accounts, for example, have the most restrictive settings, including disabled chat, although parents can modify them. Roblox Select accounts, in turn, offer tweens and younger teens access to slightly more mature content and progressive unlocking of chat functions, while always maintaining active parental protections and controls. As users reach adolescence, autonomy increases, but parents can continue to monitor them to help with online decision-making. Traditional Roblox accounts (for those over 16 years old) require age verification by identity or facial estimation. This initiative reinforces the platform’s commitment to digital security and adaptability, crucial elements for maintaining the trust of users and their families in a constantly evolving online environment.

Leonardo S., a Brazilian father and member of the Roblox Global Parents Council, highlighted the importance of the updates: “These new accounts provide greater peace of mind, combining built-in security measures with tools that help parents stay connected to their children’s experience. This combination makes it much easier for parents to track and guide their children’s digital journey as they grow.”

Games catalog: what is available for children and pre-teens?

All games available on Roblox are subject to a strict moderation system and receive an indicative content rating. To be included in the Roblox Kids and Roblox Select catalogs, games undergo additional vetting and require developers to verify their identity, protect their accounts with two-factor authentication, and in some cases, purchase a Roblox subscription or pay a refundable publishing fee. Before being released to Kids or Select accounts, games are subject to real-time gameplay analysis and feedback from users over 16 years of age.

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The platform ensures that the content has the appropriate age rating, barring games that include open social interaction features, free design or sensitive themes. Additionally, the Roblox Moments feature (where users share gameplay clips) will not be available for Kids or Select accounts at launch. Social media links, which were never allowed in chat, can now only be shared or viewed by users 16 years or older and verified age, applying to user profiles, game detail pages, Community pages, and Creator Hub.

Communication rules and age verification on the platform

Users who have not completed the age verification process are not permitted to use chat on Roblox, regardless of self-reported age. While reported age is used to allocate users to Kids or Select accounts without verification, access to chat and the full platform experience is restricted until validation. After verification, the user is directed to the appropriate account type, as detailed:

When chat is allowed, users can only communicate with people in the same or similar age range, or with “Trusted Friends”, a special category for contacts the user knows and trusts. Text filters and message rephrasing tools are always on to ensure age-appropriate conversations, and all interactions are monitored to prevent child exploitation. Default ages and settings may vary by region.

Parental powers to shape their children’s experience

With the new Roblox Kids and Select accounts, the platform expands its age-based settings and strives to help families understand their children’s access at different stages. Parents who link their accounts to their children’s gain access to a set of parental controls, allowing them to personalize their child’s Roblox experience.

For children ages 5 to 8, parents can use Parental Controls to enable in-game chat. If enabled, chat will be text-only and only allowed with users of the same age range, similar ranges or “Trusted Friends”. Text filters and message rewording remain active at all times to ensure the age appropriateness of conversations, which are constantly monitored to prevent child exploitation.

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Until the child turns 13, parents have the ability to review their friends list, block or report unwanted contacts, and approve or decline trusted friend requests. Additionally, they can set limits on screen time and spending on the platform. For children up to 16 years old, parents can modify chat settings and allow or block specific games.

Guiding game selection and blocking content

When the child is between the ages of 16 and 18, direct parental control is reduced but visibility is maintained. They can receive notifications about teens’ spending, screen time information and friends lists, which facilitates conversations about online usage.

The most effective tool for any parent is ongoing dialogue with their children. To this end, Roblox provides specialized guides, developed in partnership with child development experts, to support these conversations. As children grow, they gradually gain more autonomy through the platform’s default settings, but parents still have the option to adjust these settings to suit their needs. More details about default settings by age and customization options for children can be found in the Roblox Safety Center. The exact ages, games, and features associated with these accounts may vary by region.