“This settlement will foster a safer online environment for our kids, and I hope it will serve as a model for how interactive online platforms can better protect our state’s youth,” the Democratic attorney general stated.
Nearly half of US children under 16 use Roblox, and the platform will contribute $10 million over three years to support initiatives like the Boys & Girls Club and other non-digital activities, Ford announced. Additionally, it will establish a law enforcement liaison role to address safety issues related to the platform and fund an online safety awareness initiative, Ford noted.
The settlement, reached without litigation, features increased protections for minors using the app, such as mandatory age verification for all users and limited nighttime notifications for minors. The gaming platform is also facing lawsuits in other states, including Texas and Kentucky, regarding its child safety measures.
“Roblox is honored to have collaborated with Attorney General Ford to finalize this historic agreement, which enhances our ongoing efforts to set a new benchmark for digital safety,” Roblox Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman said in a statement.
Kaufman emphasized that the agreement serves as a model for how industry and regulators can unite to safeguard children.
The settlement comes amidst ongoing lawsuits against social media companies regarding their influence on children’s lives. Recently, in California and New Mexico, firms like Meta and YouTube were deemed responsible for creating platforms that ensnare young users and were ordered to pay over $375 million in penalties.
Ford is also pursuing lawsuits against Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and Kik, alleging these companies have inadequately implemented safety measures for children.
Under the agreement, Roblox will introduce facial age estimation technology to ensure younger users can only chat with peers in similar age brackets. Communication between adult users and those under 16 will be restricted to interactions with trusted friends, Ford stated. A trusted friend may be added via QR code or phone contacts to guarantee children know them outside the platform, he explained. The company will also monitor user activity to identify potential age misrepresentations, he added.
Roblox will set up kid accounts for users under 16, which will block access to adult content and offer games that have been vetted for age suitability. The agreement further extends parental oversight for users under 16, which was previously available only for those under 13.
Donch’e King, supervising criminal investigator at the attorney general’s office, indicated that there are approximately half a million online predators targeting children at any given moment, often across various platforms. Most predatory interactions occur through chat rooms and instant messaging, he noted. He urged parents to have open discussions with their children about the platforms they use and to report any concerns to law enforcement.
“Ensuring the safety of Nevada’s children is not just an option; it’s our responsibility,” King said.
