Online gaming service provider Roblox announced plans to expand the use of age estimation technology to all users and partner with the International Age Rating Coalition. (IARC) to introduce age labels for games and content on its platform.
"Roblox is committed to building a safe platform and helping parents make the best decisions for their children," Roblox Chief Security Officer Matt Kaufman said in a company statement quoted by TechCrunch. on Wednesday (September 3).
"We are thrilled to partner with IARC and hope this partnership will provide greater clarity and confidence to parents around the world regarding age-appropriate content," he said.
Roblox stated that later this year the age estimation system will be implemented for all users who access communication features such as voice and text chat.
This age estimation system works by scanning users' selfies to analyze facial features and estimate their age.
According to Roblox, the age estimation system combined with systems such as age verification in ID cards and verified parental consent results in a more accurate measurement of a user's age, especially when compared to systems that simply ask children to type in their birth year when creating an account.
Roblox also announced plans to introduce a new system that further limits interactions between adults and children on its platform.
games played by their children based on factors that may raise concerns such as violent content, illicit substances, adult language, and gambling.
This move aligns with an update the company announced in July, when Roblox introduced a series of security features.
The safety features introduced include a video selfie age verification system to prevent children under 13 from accessing certain features, including unfiltered voice and text chat, on the Roblox platform.
