Roblox says it is the first online gaming or communication platform to require facial age checks to access chat.

A new series of age checks and chat groupings are coming to Roblox that are meant to keep children from falling prey to predators.

Roblox, one of the most popular kids’ apps in the world, is now requiring children as young as nine years old to submit a video selfie for age verification.

Roblox is now requiring selfies, verified either with a government ID or through an AI review, to use its chat functions.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant warned last month that Roblox had become a popular target for pedophiles seeking to groom children. Predators often use “Robux”, the in-game currency, as a “trade”, or a way to bribe minors into sending explicit images.

Half of the U.S. population under the age of 16 are playing Roblox. Here's how to keep your kids safe on the platform.