The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), in a joint statement with gaming platform Roblox, announced enhanced safety measures aimed at protecting Filipino children and teens in online gaming spaces following a high-level engagement in Manila.
Roblox unveiled two new age-verified account systems—Roblox Kids and Roblox Select—which will automatically assign users under nine years old to Roblox Kids and users aged nine to 15 to Roblox Select. The platform said the move builds on its earlier implementation of mandatory facial age checks for chat access and expands protections across gameplay.
Under the new system, chat for users under nine will remain disabled by default, while users aged nine to 15 will only be allowed filtered communication with peers of similar age and Trusted Friends. Roblox will also expand parental controls, enabling parents to block specific games and manage chat settings for minors. Age-check requirements will also be applied to access games beyond those rated for the youngest users.
DICT Secretary Henry Aguda welcomed the initiative, stating, “Roblox’s introduction of enhanced safety features is a welcome development in addressing the risks faced by young users online. However, these measures must translate into real, measurable protection, and we will continue to monitor their implementation closely.”
CICC Executive Director Renato Paraiso also announced a strengthened reporting mechanism, saying, “Because of the green lane that Roblox granted to the CICC and the PNP, parents and guardians can now report any Roblox concerns to our Hotline 1326, particularly cases involving harmful content and encounters with threat actors within the platform.”
The CICC emphasized that the hotline is available 24/7 and urged parents and guardians to closely monitor children’s online activity across all platforms.
“Online safety is a shared responsibility,” the agency said, urging cooperation between government, platforms, and families.
The DICT also commended Roblox’s commitment to safety, stressing that both parties will continue working together to ensure a “safe, trusted, and positive digital environment” for Filipino users, especially minors.
