AI Scanning Kids' Faces? Roblox Under Fire for Controversial New Age Verification Method

Roblox, one of the world’s largest gaming platforms with millions of child users, is rolling out a new AI-powered video selfie system to estimate players' ages—and parents are raising eyebrows.

In its latest safety update, Roblox announced it will begin asking users to upload a video selfie to verify their age. The technology will analyze facial features using artificial intelligence, comparing them against what the company calls a "large and diverse dataset" to determine if players qualify for “Trusted Connections”—a new tier in its communication system that lifts some restrictions for verified users aged 13–17.

Roblox says the system is designed to protect minors and prevent exploitation, but the announcement has sparked concern among digital privacy advocates and parents alike.

The biggest worry? Kids will have their faces scanned and stored—likely forever—on corporate servers powered by AI.

😟 A Step Too Far for Child Safety?

While Roblox promises that the data is stored securely, no technical breakdown was shared on how long video selfies are stored, whether they are encrypted, or if third-party systems are involved.

Parents and players argue that there are better ways to verify identity without resorting to invasive facial scans—such as:

• A $1 debit card authorization requiring parental consent
• Email verification through a parent or guardian
• Or using a school-issued code with adult oversight

“A lot of parents won’t even realize that their child’s photo is now being processed and analyzed by AI,” warns one tech analyst. “This isn’t just about age verification. It’s a potential invasion of privacy.”

🎮 What Is "Trusted Connections"?

The system being rolled out introduces two communication tiers:

• Normal Connections — default access with existing chat filters
• Trusted Connections — unrestricted communication between verified teens

To unlock the second tier, players between 13–17 years old must pass age verification via government ID or this new video selfie method.

For teens trying to connect with players over 18, even more verification is needed, such as confirming real-life relationships through contact lists or QR codes.

Children under 13 will not be allowed to form Trusted Connections at all.

📉 Roblox's Balancing Act

While Roblox continues to break records—its Grow A Garden game recently dethroned Fortnite for most concurrent players—experts and watchdogs have long sounded alarms about loopholes in child protection on the platform.

The new features aim to patch those holes, but many are asking: At what cost to privacy?

🎤 MainEvent.News | Backstage Take

There’s no question that platforms like Roblox need strong protections for children—but this new AI-powered “video selfie” system feels like using a sledgehammer where a scalpel would do. Instead of building trust with parents through transparency, this move risks alienating them by normalizing AI facial analysis for minors. The bigger danger? That millions of parents won't even know it's happening.

If companies want to protect kids, start by protecting their digital footprint—not enlarging it.