Roblox steps up age checks and groups younger users into age-based chats

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Category: Technology/Innovations

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. step up / stɛp ʌp / (phrasal v.) – to increase effort or make something more effective, stronger, or better
    Example:

    The company is stepping up its security after several computers went missing.


  2. verification / ˌvɛr ə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən / (n.) – the act of checking or confirming that something is true, correct, or real
    Example:

    The app requires verification of your email address before you can use it.


  3. selfie / ˈsɛl fi / (n.) – a photo taken of oneself, often with a smartphone, usually intended for sharing on social media
    Example:

    She sent a selfie to her friend to show her new haircut.


  4. moderate / ˈmɑ də reɪt / (v.) – to check, control, or manage content, behavior, or discussions to make sure they are safe, appropriate, or follow rules
    Example:

    The new social media team will moderate comments and remove harmful content on the company’s website and social media pages.


  5. reliability / rɪˌlaɪ əˈbɪl ɪ ti / (n.) – the ability of a tool or system to work well and give correct results that people can trust
    Example:

    Scientists test the reliability of new medical tools before using them with patients.


Article

Read the text below.

Roblox is stepping up its age verification system for users who want to chat with other players and is implementing age-based chats so kids, teens, and adults will only be able to communicate with people around their own age.


The moves come as the popular gaming platform continues to face criticism and lawsuits over child safety, and a growing number of states and countries are implementing age verification laws.


The company had previously announced the age estimation tool, which is provided by a company called Persona, in July. It requires players to take a video selfie that will be used to estimate their age. Roblox says the videos are deleted after the age check is processed. Users are not required to submit a face scan to use the platform, only if they want to chat with other users.


Roblox doesn’t allow kids under 13 to chat with other users outside of games unless they have explicit parental permission—and unlike different platforms, it does not encrypt private chat conversations, so it can monitor and moderate them.


While some experts have expressed caution about the reliability of facial age estimation tools, Matt Kaufman, chief safety officer at Roblox, said that between the ages of about 5 and 25, the system can accurately estimate a person’s age within one or two years.


“But of course, there’s always people who may be well outside of a traditional bell curve. And in those cases, if you disagree with the estimate that comes back, then you can provide an ID or use parental consent in order to correct that,” he said.


After users go through the age checks, they will be assigned to age groups ranging from under 9, 9 to 12, 13 to 15, 16 to 17, 18 to 20, and over 21. Users will then be able to chat with their age group or similar age groups, depending on their age and the type of chat.


Roblox had started enforcing age checks in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands in the first week of December and will do the same in the rest of the world in early January.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Roblox asks users to take a video selfie if they want to chat with others to verify their age. Would you feel comfortable doing this? Why or why not? What concerns might children or parents have with sharing their faces online? Discuss.
  • What other ways can online platforms use to verify age without asking for a video selfie (ex. photo, birthdate)? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Roblox, the popular gaming platform, continues to face criticism and lawsuits over child safety. In your opinion, what child safety issues can occur in using online gaming platforms and chat functions? Discuss.
  • If you had a child, what would you do to prevent him/her from experiencing child safety issues (ex. monitor their use of a platform, deactivate chat features)? Discuss.