Roblox, a popular online gaming platform, is introducing new safety features to protect its young users. The company, which describes itself as a digital universe where users can socialize, role-play, and explore games created by others or build their own experiences, says hundreds of millions of people around the world play it each day.

New Safety Measures

Beginning Tuesday, Roblox users will be asked to verify their age by presenting a government-issued ID or completing a face scan. The company says the changes are intended to strengthen protections for younger users while giving parents additional tools to monitor their children’s online activity. Eliza Jacobs, Roblox’s senior director of product policy, stated that safety is an ongoing process and the company will continue to improve its systems and add new technology to protect users.

Roblox also offers Roblox Kids, a version of the platform designed for children ages 5 to 8, where chat features are disabled by default. However, parents can choose to modify these settings. The company believes the new safety measures will assist its ongoing efforts to improve protections for children and families using the platform.

Concerns Over Child Safety

Roblox has faced scrutiny over child safety concerns, with several lawsuits filed against the company alleging that children have been exposed to exploitation through chat features on the platform. Michael Shelby, founder of the Technology Addiction Center in Hartford, expressed concerns that online games like Roblox can be addictive for children, stating that games are often designed to keep users engaged by delivering dopamine.

Original reporting: NBC Connecticut — read the source article.