As pressure mounts from Philippine regulators, Roblox Corp. is rolling out a more tailored approach to child safety—one that slices its vast user base into age-specific experiences designed to evolve alongside its youngest players.
Beginning in early June, the gaming giant will introduce two new account tiers: “Roblox Kids” for children aged 5 to 8, and “Roblox Select” for users aged 9 to 15.
The shift reflects a broader industry reckoning, as authorities in the Philippines warn platforms could face restrictions—or even shutdowns—if they fail to adequately protect minors online.
“Safety isn’t a static feature—it’s a journey that evolves as a child grows,” said Matt Kaufman, the company’s chief safety officer. The new system, he added, aims to remove guesswork for parents while aligning content and interactions more closely with age.
Under the revamped framework, younger users will find themselves in tightly curated digital playgrounds. The 5-to-8 bracket will be limited to games rated “Minimal” or “Mild,” with chat features switched off by default—a notable safeguard in a platform long defined by its social interactivity.
Meanwhile, users aged 9 to 15 will gain access to slightly broader content, capped at “Moderate” ratings, with communication tools gradually introduced under stricter controls.
Behind the scenes, Roblox says a mix of developer verification, real-time content screening, and beefed-up moderation will determine which experiences make the cut. It’s a more dynamic filtering system, one the company hopes will keep pace with the scale—and unpredictability—of user-generated content.
The move builds on earlier safety measures, including facial age verification for chat access, which Roblox says a majority of its global users have already completed.
Parents, too, are getting more levers. Expanded controls will allow guardians to approve or block specific games and manage chat permissions through age 15—part of what Roblox calls a “safety-by-default” philosophy.
Whether these measures will satisfy regulators remains to be seen. But as scrutiny intensifies, one thing is clear: in today’s digital playground, growing up safely is fast becoming a business imperative.
