Roblox don launch new age accounts for pikin dem, but parent dem dey worry

Roblox, dat big online gaming platform wey get millions of users worldwide, don introduce two new type of accounts specifically for younger pikin dem. Dem call am Roblox Kids for pikin wey dey between 5 to 8 years, and Roblox Select for those wey dey 9 to 15 years. The whole idea na to make sure say content, communication settings, and parental controls dey match with pikin age.

According to David Baszucki, the founder and CEO of Roblox, this new system go start to work from early June. The platform go use age-check technology or verification from parent to put pikin inside the correct account type. Once dem confirm your age, you go automatically move to the appropriate account. For pikin wey never do age-check, dem go only fit play games wey get Minimal or Mild rating, and dem no go fit chat with anybody.

But as good as this plan sound, some parent dem don begin complain. BBC News talk to some parents wey say the age-check system fit misclassify pikin. E fit mistakenly tag small pikin as adult, and once that happen, parental controls go reduce. Matt Kaufman, Roblox chief safety officer, defend the system. Him talk say their age-estimation method, wey include facial analysis, now dey used by more than half of their daily users—that one na tens of millions of people worldwide.

Kaufman argue say the technology more reliable than to just ask pikin dem to state their age. “When you ask them that simple question,” him yarn, “users are going to tell you whatever they want to tell you in order to get access.” The company already dey require age check before pikin fit use chat features, to limit communication between children, teenagers, and adults. This new account system na extension of that approach.

One developer wey BBC interview talk say parent suppose dey monitor their pikin constantly for the platform because of safety fears. But Kaufman respond say e no correct to take one developer opinion from over two million developers wey dey the platform use am dictate how everybody feel. Him acknowledge say mistake fit happen with the age checks, but him suggest say many complaints dey come when parent dem do the age check on behalf of their pikin or when dem no understand the process well.

Roblox say parent fit reset age checks, submit appeals, or use ID verification to correct errors. Users fit even get prompt to re-verify if their behavior no match with their estimated age. Parent dem go also get ability to block games and manage direct messages until pikin reach 16 years. The company dey extend parental controls wey allow parent to manage content ratings, communication settings, screen-time, and spending limits.

Professor Sonia Livingstone from the Department of Media and Communications at London School of Economics talk to BBC say Roblox response “encouraging.” But her still express concern. Citing adult content for games and potential ways to contact pikin on Roblox, Livingstone talk say evidence dey show say the platform still pose real risks to children safety. “Parents deserve independent confirmation that the moderation is sufficient, that help systems are effective, and that age checks aren’t used for commercial profiling,” she add.

This change dey come as global pressure dey increase on tech companies to protect children online. For UK, platforms dey face new duties under the Online Safety Act. Many countries don introduce restrictions or proposals to limit social media use for pikin under 16 years. Dave Baszucki don talk before say parent suppose decide whether dem comfortable to allow their pikin use the platform.

Kaufman talk say because Roblox na the biggest online gaming platform for the world, attention go dey plenty for them. Him feel say the platform dey go “above and beyond what any other gaming platform is doing.” The company dey transition to International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) framework later this year—that one na globally recognized standard for assigning content ratings for digital games and apps.

For content wey go dey available to users under 16, Roblox go apply continuous process wey go dynamically select games. This process go include developer verification, extended content evaluation and rating, and additional limits on content wey more suited to older audiences. All content wey dem upload to Roblox still go pass through existing moderation systems, including AI asset scanning and ongoing user report review.

The exact ages, games, and features for these accounts go vary by region. Age dey based on age checks, but parent fit correct pikin age if necessary. Roblox say dem believe say age-checked users under 16 go have access to majority of their favorite games when the system launch. The whole update na part of their work to build age-appropriate experiences, apply safety-by-default protections for younger users, and give parent more visibility and control.