Roblox Reveals Younger User Base After Mandatory Age Checks
Nearly half of Roblox’s daily active user base has completed the platform’s new mandatory age verification process as of January 31. The rollout, which requires users to undergo facial scanning to access chat features, comes amid intense regulatory scrutiny regarding child safety and platform protection.
The verification system was implemented following legal action from attorneys general in Kentucky, Texas, and Louisiana. These lawsuits were triggered by public reports and investigations, including those from Hindenburg Research, alleging that the platform exposed minors to grooming risks and explicit content.
To verify their age, users must grant the Roblox app camera access to perform a facial scan. This data is handled by the third-party provider Persona, which Roblox asserts deletes all images and video content once the verification is finalized.
Verification Data and User Demographics
The Q4 2025 earnings release confirmed that verified data points to a younger user base than what was previously self-reported. Of the verified users:
- 35% are under 13 years old.
- 38% fall into the 13 to 17 age range.
- 27% are 18 or older.
Once verified, users are placed into specific age groups (under 9, 9-12, 13-15, 16-17, 18-20, and 21+), allowing them to interact only with peers in their own or adjacent brackets.
Combating System Abuse
Despite these measures, concerns persist regarding potential workarounds. Reports have surfaced of pre-verified accounts being sold on secondary markets like eBay. Eliza Jacobs, Roblox’s senior director of product policy, emphasized that the company employs continuous background monitoring to detect anomalies.
“We have key stroke analysis. The way adults type is different from the way kids type,” Jacobs explained. The platform also analyzes behavioral signals, such as the specific games played and even emoji usage patterns. “Older generations tend to use emojis at the end of sentences as punctuation, while younger people often place them in the middle of sentences,” she noted. If account activity deviates from the verified age, Roblox triggers additional verification steps.
Revenue Growth in the Adult Segment
Beyond safety, the shift in demographic data is influencing business strategy. CEO and co-founder David Baszucki indicated that the 18-plus cohort is a major growth driver.
“We have been able to find a bigger growth opportunity in the 18-plus demographic than previously assumed,” Baszucki stated. “We estimate our 18 and over cohort is growing at over 50%, and this cohort monetizes 40% higher than younger cohorts.” To capitalize on this, Roblox is actively optimizing its platform for genres popular with older users, including RPGs, racing, sports, and shooters.