Roblox Raises Age Limit for Restricted Content to 18+ Amid Safety Controversy

Roblox

Roblox is making a significant change to how mature content is handled on its platform.

Already started from August 28, any experience labeled with the “Restricted” maturity tag will now only be accessible to users aged 18 and above — raising the previous age limit from 17+. For younger players, this means Restricted experiences will no longer appear in search results or recommendations, effectively reducing their visibility across the platform.

By the end of 2025, Roblox plans to "completely block" access to Restricted content for underage users, closing off a category that’s long been debated in terms of safety and moderation.

This isn’t just a player-facing update — developers are also impacted. Creators under 18 can still manage previously published Restricted-tagged projects, but going forward, only verified developers aged 18+ will be allowed to upload new content under this label.

Roblox emphasized that even with the Restricted tag, its Community Standards remain strict. In a statement, the company reiterated that sexual content — whether implied, suggestive, or direct — is prohibited across all experiences. “We still hold Restricted content to our standards and moderate any experiences where we identify violations,” Roblox noted, adding that age verification via government-issued ID is already available, with facial recognition tools expected soon.

This update comes on the heels of growing scrutiny around Roblox’s child safety practices. Earlier this month, popular YouTuber Schlep was banned after raising concerns about exploitation and moderation — sparking backlash from fans who accused Roblox of silencing criticism. Meanwhile, longtime creator KreekCraft exited the Roblox Star Program, citing frustration over the company’s lack of response to safety issues.

Legal pressure is also mounting. Roblox is currently facing multiple lawsuits, including one in Louisiana that alleges the company failed to protect children from predators. These cases have intensified calls for reform, with Congressman Ro Khanna backing a petition demanding more transparency. That petition has already gathered nearly 100,000 signatures as of mid-August.

Even journalist Chris Hansen, known for To Catch a Predator, has taken an interest. He’s reportedly working on a documentary about Roblox’s safety practices and has reached out to Schlep for commentary.

Despite the controversy, Roblox continues to grow. Just last weekend, the platform hit a peak of over 47 million concurrent users — surpassing Steam’s record by 6 million. With these adjustments, Roblox aims to reassure parents, players, and regulators that it is serious about creating a safer environment, even as the platform continues to grow into one of the largest online spaces for younger audiences.