Roblox is splitting accounts by age for more parental control
Starting in early June, Roblox will roll out two new account types designed specifically for younger players: Roblox Kids (ages 5–8) and Roblox Select (ages 9–15). The goal is to match content access, chat features, and parental controls more closely to a child’s age.
How the New Accounts Work
Roblox Kids (ages 5–8)
- Access limited to games rated “Minimal” or “Mild”, think occasional light violence or mild crude humor.
- All chat is off by default. Parents can manually approve specific people their child is allowed to message.
- A distinct background color in the app signals the account type.
Roblox Select (ages 9–15)
- Access expands to games rated up to “Moderate.”
- Chat is available with users in a similar age range.
- A visual badge indicates the account type.
Standard Roblox accounts remain unchanged for users 16 and older. Only those 18+ can access “Restricted Content” (strong violence, romantic themes, etc.). techcrunch.com
Automatic Age Progression
Accounts upgrade automatically as kids grow:
| Age milestone | What happens |
|---|---|
| Turns 9 | Moves from Roblox Kids → Roblox Select |
| Turns 16 | Moves from Roblox Select → standard Roblox account |
Users who haven’t completed an age check yet will be limited to the most restricted game catalog and won’t have access to chat until they verify.
How Games Get Approved for Younger Players
Every game on Roblox already goes through AI scanning and real-time moderation. For the under-16 catalogs, Roblox is adding a three-step screening process:
- Developer verification: Creators must complete ID verification, enable two-step authentication, and hold an active Roblox Plus subscription ($4.99/month, launching April 30).
- Real-time evaluation: Players 16+ test new games first; their feedback and reports help flag issues before younger users get access.
- Content rating check: Games must carry the appropriate maturity label and can’t include sensitive topics, social hangouts, or free-form drawing features by default.
Later this year, Roblox will also adopt the IARC rating framework, bringing region-specific labels like ESRB (U.S.) and PEGI (Europe/U.K.) to the platform.
Expanded Parental Control
Parents already have tools to manage screen time, spending, and communication. Under the new system they’ll also be able to:
- Block specific games through age 15.
- Manage direct-chat settings through age 15.
- Approve individual games that fall outside their child’s default catalog, useful if siblings of different ages want to play together.
The changes follow lawsuits from the attorneys general of Louisiana and Texas, plus investigative reports alleging that Roblox exposed young users to grooming and explicit content. The new tiered system is part of Roblox’s broader push to tighten safety defaults while still giving older teens and adults access to a wider range of experiences.
