Roblox to launch kids, teen accounts for safety

Roblox said it will roll out tailored accounts in early June for users aged 5 to 8 and 9 to 15, using age checks or parental verification to place them into Roblox Kids or Roblox Select accounts, as it faces global scrutiny over child safety.

Games in Roblox Kids will be limited by maturity level and must pass a three-step review, while chat will be off by default for Kids accounts and turned on gradually for Select accounts based on age.

Roblox said developers seeking placement in Roblox Kids must verify their identities, use two-step verification, and keep an active Roblox Plus subscription, which launches on April 30 at US$4.99 a month.

🔗 Source: Reuters

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Roblox’s developer paywall arrives as lawsuits pile up

Roblox now requires an active Roblox Plus subscription to publish games that can reach users of all ages on Roblox, including users with Roblox Kids and Roblox Select accounts 1.
Creators pushed back fast, calling it a pay-to-publish rule. One developer wrote, “We need to pay Roblox to make games for their platform???” 1.
Roblox faces lawsuits from groups including Los Angeles County and multiple U.S. states. The claims say the platform fails to protect children from exploitation 2 3.
Roblox is offering a free six-month Plus subscription to about 100,000 existing creators who qualify. Eligibility includes a 100-hour playtime threshold for at least one owned game in the last 30 days as of April 13, plus no major Community Standards violations 1.

This model swaps open publishing for recurring fees and a safer stance

Roblox is moving beyond transaction fees by charging a recurring fee for access to publish games that reach all ages, including Roblox Kids and Roblox Select accounts 1.
The subscription also supports Roblox’s case that it vets developers and raises safety standards. This comes amid lawsuits plus regulator probes, including from the EU, or European Union 4 3.
Other user-generated content platforms may follow with creator access fees to help cover moderation and compliance costs 4.
Some developers question other Plus features. They point to free Robux transfers, since Robux is Roblox’s in-platform currency, as a possible way to sidestep the official revenue-sharing system 5.