Roblox Cracks Down on Age-Skipping, Launches Kid Accounts

0:00Roblox just dropped a bombshell on sneaky parents helping their kids dodge age checks to chat like adults on the platform. Back in December last year, they rode out facial age scans to verify users before letting them talk, sorting everyone into age groups up to 21. But they've spotted mismatches in behavior by kids who scan older than they act, leading to forced re-verifications. Turns out, some parents grabbed the phone for the scan with the kid lurking in the background. Roblox's safety chief, Matt Kaufman, says they've got fraud detectors to block tricks like fake videos or drawn on moustaches. Now, they're rechecking accounts daily if play patterns don't match the verified age. Players are reacting with mixed vibes, kids want full access, parents face the heat, and it's all tied to Australia's push to ban social media for, under 16s. Roblox dodged that ban thanks to these tools, but the e-safety commissioner notes teens just a couple years shy of 16 still slipped through on other.

1:00Sites. New stats show 50% of their 144 million daily users worldwide have passed checks as of April, jumping to 60% down under New Zealand and the Netherlands. This follows a harsh expose on harassment kids faced in games, prompting tighter game moderation that watches player interactions too. Looking ahead, Roblox is launching kid accounts for under 9s and 9 to 15s with safe games, plus they'll adopt Australia's rating system. Soon to keep things locked down, for real. You've been listening to Sydney News today, AI-powered local news.