Roblox adds features for teens to talk less restrictedly to real-life friends
Previously, Roblox categorized all connections equally. Now, the platform is adding a new classification called 'trusted connections,' intended for users who know each other outside of Roblox. Verified users 13 and older—typically through a new video-based age estimation system developed with identity verification company Persona —will be able to engage in what the company refers to as unfiltered chat sessions with these trusted contacts. While these voice and text conversations will still be monitored for harmful behavior, they will not support video or photo sharing.
'This makes Roblox the only major platform that will require age verification, like facial age estimation, in order to use private voice or unfiltered chat,' says Ryan Ebanks, principal product manager for social products at Roblox.
Age verification is becoming more common across digital platforms. Reddit, for example, recently implemented Persona-powered age verification for users accessing adult content in the UK. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for adult online content. Roblox users can also verify their age by using an official ID, and the company plans to allow parents to verify their children's ages in the future.
These efforts are part of Roblox's broader initiative to maintain its appeal among youth and parents while ensuring the platform remains safe—especially in light of high-profile incidents involving predatory behavior and inappropriate and violent content. Despite controversies, Roblox continues to thrive: As of May, its first-quarter revenue rose 29% year over year, to $1.035 billion, and daily active users climbed 26%, to 97.8 million.
Allowing unfiltered chats with trusted connections may enhance safety, Ebanks suggests, by discouraging teens from taking conversations to external platforms with weaker safeguards. Roblox will also provide teens with additional guidance on blocking and reporting unwanted interactions.
Users younger than 18 can only add adults as trusted connections if they can confirm a real-life relationship—currently by syncing phone contacts or scanning a QR code in person, with safeguards to ensure proper usage.
Parents who link their Roblox accounts to their teens' will gain more visibility into their children's activity. They'll be able to see their kids' connections, including which are trusted; track time spent on the platform; monitor top games played; and configure notifications for financial transactions.
'We know that parents are extremely busy, and so we've designed these to really be quick at-a-glance insights that parents can hopefully fit into their busy schedules,' says Dina Lamdany, senior product manager at Roblox.
Teens over 13 will also be able to view their own screen time, set daily limits, activate do-not-disturb periods, and better manage who can see their online status.
'We've heard directly from teens that they're really nervous about being too visible online,' Lamdany says. She adds that some developers are even looking forward to logging in without appearing visible to others.
These new features reflect Roblox's broader effort to address challenges common to online platforms, such as managing screen time and reducing unwanted communication—while also dealing with the unique responsibilities of serving a young user base.
In recent years, Roblox has introduced content tailored to older users, including edgier experiences for those 17 and older, while continuing to invest in educational and safety-focused content for younger players.
'Our goal is that Roblox matures with you—that you can start playing and learning when you're 7, and you can stay on the platform until you're in your 70s—but that the experience you have on Roblox will really adapt and be customized to meet you where you are,' Lamdany says.
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Cummings, Gil Rabinovici, Stephen Salloway, Reisa Sperling, Henrik Zetterberg, Angeliki Thanasopolou, Christopher Lane, Paul Delmar, Gregory Klein, Ruth Croney, Jakub Wojtowicz, Carsten Hofmann, Luka Kulic, Hideki Garren Diagnostics Evaluating the Impact on Diagnostic Performance and Healthcare Resource Utilization of Introducing a plasma rule-out test in the Alzheimer's Disease Diagnostic Pathway Poster #102729 27 July 2025, 7:30am - 4:15pm EDT Sophie Roth, Gustaf Ortsäter, Joana Amorim Freire Location tbc Evaluating the Clinical Performance of the Elecsys pTau217 Plasma Immunoassay to Detect Amyloid Pathology in a Routine Clinical Practice Cohort Poster #96679 28 July 2025, 7:30am – 4:15pm EDT Sayuri Hortsch, Niels Borlinghaus, Alexander Jethwa, David Caley, Annunziata Di Domenico, Craig Ritchie Clinical performance and effect of pre-analytical variation of plasma pTau217 alone versus the plasma pTau217/Aβ42 ratio for the identification of amyloid pathology Oral Developing Topics #108585 3-23-DEV Developing Topics on Tau Biomarkers 29 July 2025, 2:00pm – 3:30pm EDT Christopher M. Rank, Joana Amorim Freire, Alexander Jethwa, Annunziata Di Domenico, Christina Rabe, Marc Suárez-Calvet, Colin L. Masters, Tobias Bittner Accuracy of cerebrospinal fluid biomarker ratios to determine amyloid positron-emission tomography status: a diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis Poster #100941 28 July 2025, 7:30am – 4:15pm EDT Pablo Martinez-Lage, Eino Solje, Julian G. Martins, Sraboni Sarkar Equity in diagnosis through adequate clinical trial design in diagnostic performance studies Poster #102804 30 July 2025, 7:30am - 4:15pm EDT Imke Kirste, David Caley, Clara Quijano Rubio, Margherita Carboni Investigating Differences in Patients Enrolled in a Clinical Study Based on Referral Type Poster #108110 30 July 2025, 7:30am - 4:15pm EDT Sophie Roth, Laura Schlieker, Sayuri Hortsch, Joana Amorim Freire, David Caley About trontinemab Trontinemab is an investigational Brainshuttle bispecific 2+1 amyloid-beta targeting monoclonal antibody specifically engineered for enhanced access to the brain to enable rapid reduction of amyloid in people with Alzheimer's disease. Trontinemab is designed for the efficient transport across the blood-brain barrier to target aggregated forms of amyloid beta and remove amyloid plaques in the brain. The uniqueness of trontinemab is based on Roche's proprietary Brainshuttle technology combining an amyloid beta-binding antibody with a transferring receptor (TfR1) shuttle module. As a result, high central nervous system (CNS) exposure of trontinemab may be achieved at low doses, leading to a rapid and deep amyloid clearance. Due to its unique properties, trontinemab might unlock the full potential of disease-modifying monoclonal antibodies by effectively penetrating the brain and potentially leading to slowing of disease progression. About Roche in Alzheimer's Disease With more than two decades of scientific research in Alzheimer's disease, Roche is working towards a day when we can detect and treat the disease early, in order to slow down, stop or even prevent its progression to preserve what makes people who they are. Today, the company's Alzheimer's disease portfolio spans investigational medicines for different targets, types and stages of the disease, including trontinemab. On the diagnostics side, it also includes approved and investigational tools, including digital and blood-based tests and CSF assays, aiming to more effectively detect, diagnose and monitor the disease. Yet the global challenges of Alzheimer's disease go well beyond the capabilities of science, and making a meaningful impact requires collaboration both within the Alzheimer's community and outside of healthcare. Roche will continue to work together with numerous partners with the hope to transform millions of lives. About Genentech in Neuroscience Neuroscience is a major focus of research and development at Genentech. Our goal is to pursue groundbreaking science to develop new treatments that help improve the lives of people with chronic and potentially devastating diseases. Genentech and Roche are investigating more than a dozen medicines for neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Together with our partners, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of scientific understanding to solve some of the most difficult challenges in neuroscience today. About Genentech Founded more than 40 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Meghan Hindman (650) 467-6800Advocacy Contact: Jenee Williams (650) 303-2958Investor Contacts: Loren Kalm (650) 225-3217Bruno Eschli +41616875284 Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
