Roblox is launching two new age-based account types in June 2026: Roblox Kids for ages 5-8 and Roblox Select for ages 9-15. Here's everything players need to know about the new system.
Roblox is splitting its platform into tiered account types based on user age, marking the most significant safety overhaul in the platform’s 20-year history. CEO David Baszucki announced on April 13, 2026, that two new account categories, Roblox Kids (ages 5-8) and Roblox Select (ages 9-15), will roll out globally in early June 2026. With 144 million daily active users as of Q4 2025 and over half of those under 16, this restructuring affects the majority of the platform’s user base.
How the Three-Tier Account System Works
The new system relies on Roblox’s facial age-estimation technology, which became mandatory for chat access in January 2026. According to Roblox, over 50 percent of global daily active users and 65 percent of US users have already completed the age check. Users who haven’t verified will be restricted to the most limited experience: only Minimal or Mild-rated games with no communication features at all.
Roblox Kids (Ages 5-8): The most restricted tier. Access is limited to games rated Minimal or Mild that pass a three-step screening process. All communication is disabled by default. Parents can select specific individuals their child is allowed to contact, but open chat is completely off the table. The app displays a distinct blue background to make the account type immediately visible.
Roblox Select (Ages 9-15): A middle tier with access to games rated up to Moderate. For ages 9-12, chat is off by default but parents can enable it, limited to users under 16. For ages 13-15, text and voice chat are enabled by default, but restricted to the 9-17 age range. The app uses a unique visual design to indicate the account category.
Standard Roblox (Ages 16+): Full platform access with no content restrictions except the “Restricted Content” category (strong violence, romantic themes, strong language), which remains locked until age 18. Parental visibility into friends, screen time, and spending persists until age 18.
What Happens to Existing Accounts?
Roblox will provide a transition period allowing all existing users to complete the age-check process. After verification, users are automatically assigned to the appropriate account tier. Accounts progress automatically as users age: Kids transitions to Select at age 9, and Select transitions to a standard account at age 16. This means nobody gets permanently stuck in a restricted tier.
For parents, the system introduces expanded controls that remain active through age 15, including granular game blocking, direct chat management, and a new feature: the ability to approve specific games that fall outside the child’s default account restrictions. If a younger sibling wants to play the same game as an older sibling, a parent can grant individual access.
The Three-Step Game Screening Process
Not every Roblox game will be available to younger accounts. A continuous evaluation system determines which titles make the cut, and it consists of three stages:
- Developer verification: Creators must complete ID verification, enable two-step verification, and maintain an active Roblox Plus subscription ($4.99/month, launching April 30, 2026). This requirement effectively gates access to younger audiences behind verified, committed developers.
- Real-time evaluation: Roblox analyses how users aged 16 and older interact with new games and monitors user reports before making content available to younger players. This creates a testing buffer where older users essentially vet games first.
- Content maturity ratings and exclusions: Each game receives a maturity label (Minimal, Mild, or Moderate). Games featuring sensitive issues, social hangout spaces, or free-form drawing tools are excluded from Kids and Select accounts by default.
Roblox has stated that age-checked users under 16 will still have access to “the vast majority of their favorite games at launch,” so the screening process isn’t designed to gut the available library.
IARC Ratings Are Coming Later in 2026
Roblox announced in September 2025 a partnership with the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) and confirmed it will transition to IARC’s framework later in 2026. This means players in Europe will see PEGI ratings, US players will see ESRB ratings, German players will see USK ratings, and Korean players will see GRAC ratings. The shift replaces Roblox’s proprietary maturity labels with globally recognised standards, making content ratings immediately familiar to parents who already use these systems for console and PC games.
Why Roblox Is Making These Changes Now
The timing isn’t coincidental. Roblox faces an unprecedented wave of legal pressure over child safety. At least 146 family lawsuits have been consolidated into a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Northern District of California. State attorneys general in Texas, Louisiana, and Iowa have filed separate lawsuits. Los Angeles County sued in February 2026, alleging “unfair and deceptive business practices that endanger and exploit children.” In 2024 alone, Roblox submitted over 24,500 reports of suspected child exploitation to authorities.
A 2024 Hindenburg Research report alleged that adult content and explicit chat groups were accessible through accounts registered as belonging to minors. Multiple lawsuits claim Roblox misrepresented its safety controls to parents while failing to implement meaningful age verification. The new tiered account system directly addresses these allegations by building age-appropriate restrictions into the platform’s core architecture rather than relying on opt-in parental controls alone.
Roblox Plus Replaces Premium: What Changes
The new account system coincides with a broader platform restructuring. Roblox Plus, launching April 30, 2026, replaces Roblox Premium as the platform’s subscription offering. At $4.99 per month, it includes a 10 percent discount on Robux purchases (increasing to 20 percent after three consecutive months), free unlimited access to paid private servers, and fee-free Robux transfers to other players (restricted to age-verified 18+ users).
Roblox Premium will no longer accept new subscribers, though existing members can continue their subscriptions. The 10 percent bonus on additional Robux purchases and the Premium profile badge will be discontinued from May 30. Optional bundles adding 500, 1,000, or 2,000 monthly Robux will be available alongside the base Roblox Plus subscription.
If you’re looking for Robux at competitive prices, GamerMarkt’s Robux store offers secure purchasing with 7-day-a-week support and fast delivery. For players interested in established accounts with rare items, the Roblox account marketplace on GamerMarkt provides verified listings with buyer protection.
How This Affects Players in Banned Regions
Roblox remains blocked in Turkey (since August 2024) and Egypt (since February 2026) over child safety concerns. Turkey’s ban was imposed by the Adana 6th Criminal Judgeship of Peace under internet regulation law 5651, citing content that could lead to child exploitation. Roblox responded by establishing a local company in Turkey in May 2025 with 35 million TL in capital and has been in active discussions with Turkish authorities.
Roblox’s VP of Global Public Policy Nicky Jackson Colaco stated on April 14, 2026, that discussions with Turkish officials have been “highly productive” and that the newly announced safety measures were informed by those conversations. Colaco expressed the company’s expectation to bring Roblox back to Turkey’s player and developer community “as soon as possible and in the safest way.” The new age-based account system directly addresses the core concerns that led to the Turkish ban, potentially strengthening the case for lifting the restriction.
What Players Usually Ask About the New System
Will players over 16 notice any changes?
No. Roblox has explicitly confirmed that age-checked users 16 and older will not see any change to their experience. The new tiers only affect users under 16.
What if the age check gets my age wrong?
Parents can correct a child’s age if the system’s facial estimation is inaccurate. The exact ages, games, and features associated with accounts may also vary by region based on local regulations.
Can parents override restrictions?
Yes. Parents can approve access to specific games outside their child’s default tier and manage chat settings. They can also block individual games through age 15.
Do developers need to pay to reach younger audiences?
Effectively, yes. The developer verification step requires an active Roblox Plus subscription ($4.99/month), ID verification, and two-step verification. Developers under 16 must complete ID verification or maintain a linked parent account.
What about privacy with the facial scan?
Roblox states that its Facial Age Estimation process is designed with privacy protections. The system estimates age from a selfie scan without storing biometric data for identification purposes. However, privacy advocacy groups continue to monitor how this data is handled, particularly for minors.
The Bigger Picture: Platform Safety as Standard
Roblox’s move reflects a broader industry trend. Regulatory pressure in the EU, UK, Australia, and across the US is pushing platforms that host minors toward stricter age verification and content gating. The UK’s Online Safety Act, the EU’s Digital Services Act, and Australia’s eSafety regulations all emphasise platform accountability for protecting younger users. Roblox’s tiered account system positions the platform ahead of potential regulatory mandates that could impose even stricter requirements.
With full-year 2025 revenue reaching $4.9 billion (up 36 percent year-over-year) and bookings hitting $6.8 billion, Roblox has the financial capacity to invest in these safety systems. The question now is whether the execution matches the ambition, and whether the new architecture genuinely makes the platform safer or simply shifts liability. The June 2026 launch will be the first real test.
