Roblox to Add Age Restrictions for Social Hangouts and Unrated Experiences

Child Safety Updates - Roblox is limiting access to more interactive spaces and unrated games for users under 13 years old, restricting social hangout elements, vibe games, clubs, and free-form creation tools [1][2] - Starting November 18, gamers under 13 will not be able to access these interactive features, though roleplaying games and real-life simulations remain accessible [2] - The company is also changing its default settings to prevent users under 13 from accessing unrated games, requiring developers to complete a questionnaire by December 3 to make their games accessible to preteens [3] Background and Context - The updates come amid increased scrutiny over Roblox's child protection measures, with investigations revealing cases of predators targeting children and a lawsuit alleging illegal gambling on the platform [4] - Over 40% of Roblox's 78 million users are preteens, making child safety a critical issue for the platform [4] - In October, the company introduced parental controls, allowing parents to limit access to certain chats and games based on their child's age [5]