TL;DR:
- Roblox rolls out Trusted Connections and renames “Friends” to “Connections”
- New age estimation technology ensures features are age-appropriate
- Enhanced parent monitoring tools track time, transactions, and connections
- Lawmaker scrutiny prompts greater safeguards for users aged 13–17
- Conversations remain proactively monitored for critical harm
Roblox Responds to Lawmaker Pressure with New Teen Safety Features
Roblox has announced a slate of new tools to protect teenage users on its platform. These updates include a renamed friend system called “Connections”, AI-based age estimation technology, and expanded privacy and parental monitoring capabilities. The goal is to strengthen safeguards for users aged 13 to 17 amid ongoing criticism from lawmakers and child safety groups.
This initiative follows a subpoena from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier in April, demanding details on how children are exposed to harmful content and how predators exploit messaging tools on the platform.
Trusted Connections and Unfiltered Chats for Teens
One of the most significant updates is Trusted Connections, which replaces the traditional “Friends” system. According to Ryan Ebanks, Senior Product Manager at Roblox, teens will now be able to communicate more freely through voice and chat without filters—but only with verified contacts.
“Users the system determines are 13+ will get access to more expressive chat features with their Trusted Connections,” Ebanks noted in a press briefing.
To prevent misuse, conversations between Trusted Connections are actively monitored for critical harm such as grooming or abuse. The company emphasizes that these new freedoms aim to reduce the risk of teens moving off-platform, where protections are limited or nonexistent.
AI-Based Age Estimation: Selfie Video Required
To unlock these new communication features, users must pass Roblox’s new AI-powered age estimation process. This involves uploading a short selfie video, which is then analyzed to estimate the user’s age. If a user is determined to be at least 13 years old, they can access Trusted Connections. Otherwise, their age will be unconfirmed until they provide ID verification.
According to Roblox’s official safety FAQ, the age estimation system uses computer vision to verify age without storing biometric data, aligning with privacy compliance standards.
Additional Privacy Tools for Teens
Roblox is also rolling out flexible privacy settings:
- Teens can choose who sees their online status (Everyone, Connections, Followers, No One).
- Users can define a quiet window during which push notifications are disabled.
These privacy controls reflect a broader push toward personalized safety tools, helping teens balance engagement and digital well-being.
Parents Get Dashboard Access to Monitor Usage
The new features are accompanied by a suite of parental tools. Parents can now:
- View who their teen is connected to
- Track time spent on Roblox
- Monitor game activity and transaction notifications
“We know that parents are extremely busy, and so we’ve designed these to really be quick at-a-glance insights,” said Dina Lamdany, Senior Product Manager at Roblox.
These features build upon Roblox’s existing parental controls, making it easier for guardians to supervise teen interactions without micromanaging their online behavior.
Roblox Teen Safety Enhancements
| Feature | Description | Source |
| Trusted Connections | Teens can chat without filters, only with verified real-life contacts | Roblox Blog |
| Age Estimation Technology | AI-powered selfie scan to confirm users are 13+ | Roblox Help Center |
| Parental Monitoring Dashboard | Parents can track time, activity, and transactions | TechCrunch |
| Online Status & Notification Tools | Teens set visibility and alert preferences | Roblox Blog |
Conclusion: A Strategic Shift for Roblox’s Reputation
These latest updates mark a strategic shift by Roblox to address mounting criticism over how it handles teen and child safety. While these tools empower teens with more autonomy and privacy, they also ensure parental oversight and platform accountability.
Given the increasing regulatory pressure on platforms with young user bases, Roblox’s approach could serve as a model for age-sensitive platforms seeking to strike the right balance between freedom and safety.
