Starting next year, Roblox will require all users to go through an age estimation process if they want to chat with other players.

Roblox will require soon Users must undergo an age estimation process if they want to be able to chat with other people on the platform. This requirement will be effective for all users starting in early January.

Starting in the first week of December, Roblox will ask users in some markets, including Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, to perform an age estimate so they can chat with others. In early January, the requirements will be expanded to include other countries where you can use Roblox chat.

After performing the age estimation process, Roblox will divide users into groups: under 9, 9-12, 13-15, 16-17, 18-20, and 21+. Users will only be able to talk to users in their same group “and similar age groups as appropriate,” Roblox VP Rajiv Bhatia said at a press conference.

In the newsroom post, Roblox gives a few examples of how these groups work and who they allow people to chat with:

Elisa (estimated age 12): Elissa has access to chat with users who are 15 years or younger in the chat experience. All users 16 years or older are prohibited from starting or participating in a chat with her.

Marcus (estimated age 18): Marcus has access to chat with users aged 16 or older and can add a younger sibling as a trusted contact, as long as they are 13 or older.

The photos and videos used in Roblox age verifications are processed by Persona, and Roblox says the photos and videos are deleted immediately after they are processed.