Roblox Kids and Select accounts are established worldwide

Gaming platform Roblox has rolled out Kids and Select accounts globally, the company said in a blog post on Tuesday.

The account types, which Roblox previously introduced in Australia, Indonesia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, provide parents with a range of content protection depending on the age of the user.

What are Roblox Kids and Select accounts?

Children’s accounts are designed for children aged five to eight while Select accounts are for users aged nine to 15.

Young users of the platform can only access games that Roblox has labeled as “young” or “gentle” for their age, and they cannot chat automatically.

Select accounts that can play moderately rated games, which may include some violence, crude humor, and horror, as well as “light reality blood” and “unplayable” gambling content. The chat settings for these accounts vary depending on the user’s age and location.

Roblox automatically assigns users to a specific account type based on an age verification process. Users are then automatically migrated to new accounts as they grow. When a teenager turns 16, based on Roblox’s understanding of their age, they have access to a regular Roblox account. In January, Roblox began requiring users to verify their age to unlock chat features.

“With Roblox Kids and Roblox Select, we’re creating age-based protections designed to support young users at different stages, while giving parents the tools to personalize that experience for their families,” said Matt Kaufman, chief security officer at Roblox, in the company’s announcement.

In addition to its existing parental controls, Roblox extends game blocking and chat management features to parents of 16-year-olds. Parents will also be able to approve certain games that are not included in their child’s default account settings.

Why is Roblox being investigated and sued?

The expected development comes as Roblox remains under legal pressure and scrutiny. Roblox is facing more than 160 lawsuits filed by plaintiffs who say they were sexually abused as children because of inadequate child safety practices. Roblox, along with messaging platform Discord, recently asked for those claims to be taken out of court and moved to a closed settlement, according to Bloomberg.

In April, Roblox paid $23 million to Alabama and West Virginia to settle investigations into the company’s handling of child safety. The West Virginia investigation gathered evidence that young Roblox users had been exposed to sex and violence, grooming and predators, according to Reuters.

Last month, child safety organizations accused Roblox of violating Federal Trade Commission rules that prohibit false advertising, unfair practices, and deceptive practices, and called for an investigation into Roblox. The company disputed those claims in a statement to Mashable.