Roblox’s new age verification is failing, mislabeling adults and locking players out of chat
The system meant to protect kids is misidentifying users and disrupting communication across the platform.
Roblox is currently navigating one of its most challenging updates to date. In an effort to address allegations regarding child safety and the presence of predators, the platform recently made age verification mandatory for anyone wishing to use its communication features. However, less than a week into the global rollout, the system is facing significant criticism due to technical glitches that are misidentifying users’ ages.
As is reported in Wired, the new process requires players to either submit a facial age estimation via a selfie or, for those over 13, upload a government-issued ID. Once verified, users are placed into specific age brackets—such as 13-15 or 21+—to ensure they only interact with peers in similar age groups. While the goal is to create a safer environment for younger players, the execution has been far from perfect. Reports have surfaced of a 23-year-old being classified as a teenager, while other adults found themselves restricted to chat groups for 13-to-15-year-olds.
i have a full ass beard and it put my alt on a 13-16 age range. what did they mean by this
— Dumboaidz (@Dumboaidz) January 8, 2026
Technical Glitches and Creative Spoofs
The system’s reliance on AI-powered facial estimation has proven easy to trick for some. Online videos have gone viral showing children “spoofing” the software to gain adult status. In one instance, a child successfully bypassed the filters by drawing wrinkles and stubble on their face to appear over 21. Another user reportedly gained adult classification simply by showing the camera a photo of the late rock star Kurt Cobain.
bro cracked roblox app age verification pic.twitter.com/uLNcGBGdyx
— Mugo | Ads for Apps (@MugoScales) January 4, 2026
Furthermore, some parents have inadvertently complicated the system by completing the age checks on behalf of their children. This has led to minors being placed in the 21+ category, defeating the safety purpose of the update entirely. Roblox has acknowledged these issues, stating they are working on solutions to address parental verification errors, but the immediate impact has left many questioning the reliability of the technology.
An impact on the developer community
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The shift has not only affected players but has also the developer community. Many creators have voiced their concerns on the official Roblox forums, noting that their games now feel like “ghost towns” because a large portion of the player base can no longer communicate. Internal data shared by one developer suggested that the percentage of users active in chat plummeted from roughly 90% to just 36.5% following the update.
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