Roblox, a popular gaming platform among children, announced that users under 16 in Indonesia must undergo facial scans to verify their age, aligning with new government restrictions on minors’ use of digital platforms. Nicky Jackson Colaco, Roblox’s vice president, revealed that the company has introduced age-specific accounts: Roblox Kids for ages 5 to 12, which disables chat features, and Roblox Select for ages 13 to 15, which limits chat to parents or approved contacts. The 23 million accounts identified as belonging to users under 16 will be transitioned automatically, with age verification through video selfies that are immediately deleted. Indonesia’s regulations aim to protect children from addiction and online risks, prompting Roblox to implement screen time limits. The government also requires platforms to report suspended accounts. Roblox is the only gaming platform classified as high-risk by Indonesia, differing from other social media platforms in its access restrictions for children.
QUESTION: How might these new age verification measures impact the way young people in Indonesia interact with digital platforms?
Roblox to require facial scans for children under 16 in Indonesia due to new social media rules
