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Roblox Rolls Out Restricted Accounts For Under-16 Users Amid Lawsuit, Social Media Ban

Authored by Rex Widerstrom via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

While managing to avoid Australia’s under-16 social media ban, the global game creation platform Roblox has moved to introduce restricted accounts for children and teenagers.

A 7-year-old teenage boy looks at a photo screen with Roblox, a social media networking app that will not be age-restricted in Sydney, Australia on Dec. 7, 2025. George Chan/Getty Images

The move also comes in the wake of a lawsuit from Los Angeles County alleging it does not carry out adequate moderation and that its age-verification systems are not fit for purpose.

The suit claims that, as a result, young people were exposed to sexual content, exploitation, and online predators while playing the game.

It joined more than 60 other actions brought by players or their parents, the majority from families in the United States.

Roblox founder and CEO, David Baszucki, announced the changes online, saying an update to the platform will bring age checks, account-level defaults, content ratings, ongoing moderation, and expanded parental controls together into a “unified framework for younger users.”

“Based on our selection criteria, we believe age-checked users under 16 will have access to the vast majority of their favourite games at launch. Age-checked users 16 and older will not see any change to their Roblox experience,” Baszucki said.

With over 151 million active players every day, Roblox has become one of the most popular online platforms ever.

Users will now be sorted into one of three groups: Kids’ accounts (ages 5 to 8), Select accounts (ages 9 to 15) and those aged 16 and above, who will have access to the standard Roblox account.

Users between the ages of five and eight will be assigned to a Kid’s account by the platform’s systems, either based on a verified parent or its worldwide age-check technology, which includes facial recognition. They will be limited to games with a “minimal” or “mild” content maturity label, and communication will be disabled by default.

A screenshot of the different Roblox editions available depending on age group. Screenshot/Roblox website

Roblox Select accounts will be able to access games with content maturity labels up to and including “moderate” and chat room functions will be gradually introduced with safeguards, allowing them to chat with family and friends or those that are a similar age.

Each of the two new levels will have a distinct background colour across the app to indicate the account type.

Roblox Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman told GamesBeat that there should be coordination between platforms.

“There has to be some coordination, some minimum bar we expect all companies to clear when you involve kids and teens. The reality is, they’re just jumping from platform to platform. That’s normal. I have two kids who have grown up online. It’s just what they do.”

Despite the action against it in the United States, Roblox was not among the platforms Australia’s eSafety Commissioner said she would be investigating for potential non-compliance with Australia’s social media ban.

Those were Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube, all of which are currently restricted platforms under the law, which has now been in place for 4 months.

Government Welcomes Changes

Meanwhile, Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells welcomed the Roblox announcement. She has previously met with representatives of the platform and expressed concerns over graphic content and reports of grooming.

“We made it clear to Roblox that something had to be done,” she told journalists, “and I welcome these steps towards stronger safety measures on their platform for under-16s, not just in Australia, but globally. Kids should be able to play their favourite games without being exposed to harmful content.

“We will closely watch the rollout of Roblox’s changes to make sure they create a meaningful difference to the experience of young Australians on their platforms.”

She dismissed concerns that young people have continued to circumvent the restrictions—including by reportedly drawing on facial hair—saying it’s no surprise.

“There isn’t 100 percent effectiveness for the law against murdering people in this country; people still murder [yet] no one is making an argument that we shouldn’t have a law against murdering people in this country,” she said.

“We’ve always said cultural change takes time, and we will not get a 100 percent strike rate, or anything like it, for any amount of time shortly after the ban comes in.

“The law is important because it sets a cultural standard.”

Tyler Durden Wed, 04/15/2026 - 06:30

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Europe Drafts Pie In The Sky Plan To Free Up Hormuz Without 'Belligerent' Parties

This is quite the ambitious headline revealing the latest 'plan' for Hormuz to come out of Europe, as it sits on the sidelines watching the US get potentially bogged down in the region following a month of heavy airstrikes on Iran: Europe drafts postwar plan to free up Strait of Hormuz without US, WSJ reports.

This is apparently a plan for after the main crisis is over, amid the strait still being blockaded (with the each warring side insisting it is they in control of the strategic chokepoint waterway). It seems the main idea is to eventually take the United States out of the equation, allowing only for the 'neutral' countries to free up and clean the Hormuz Strait.

Both the Iranians & Americans still step aside & tiny French warships will move in?

But the whole thing is very strange - on the one hand, it purports to keep one of the key belligerents, namely the United States, at bay - while on the other envisioning European/NATO military ships engaged in freedom navigation operations, including some mine-clearing.

For example, there is this line from the Journal report: "French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday the plan is for an international defensive mission that doesn't include the 'belligerent' parties, meaning the US, Israel and Iran. European diplomats familiar with the plan say European ships wouldn't be under American command."

According to a Newsquawk summary of the WSJ main highlights: 

—European countries are putting together a plan for a broad coalition of countries to help free up shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, including sending mine-clearing and other military vessels. But the plan would only come after the war and may exclude the US.

—Some differences must still be worked: French diplomats think that any US involvement in the operation would make it less palatable to Tehran, while British officials worry that not including the Americans will anger Trump and limit the operation's scope.

—The plan has three broad aims:

1) put logistics in place to ensure the hundreds of ships currently stuck in the strait can leave.

2) Employ a major demining operation to clear the way for a far larger number of ships to use a broader part of the strait.

3) Removing Iranian mines in Hormuz is crucial to getting ships going again.

The reality is that this supposed plan brings things back full circle to problem #1... as it's not as if either Iran, or the United States, will simply shrug and cede control so that a European military coalition can step in and take over.

Which side will ever actually agree to this? The obvious answer, at least for the time being and foreseeable future is... nobody.

And then there's the question of what leverage or force will Europe employ to assert its military presence in the strait in order to keep all parties in line... some mere harsh language and strong words?

Tyler Durden Wed, 04/15/2026 - 05:45

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Rolls-Royce 470-Megawatt Nuclear Reactors To Power 3 Million UK Homes For 60 Years

Authored by Mrigakshi Dixit via Interesting Engineering,

The UK’s new nuclear approval at Wylfa officially kicks off what the government calls a “golden age” for the nation’s energy sector.

Depiction of Rolls-Royce SMR site at Wylfa on Anglesey, North Wales.

On April 13, the government approved the development of three Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) at the Wylfa site on Anglesey, North Wales. 

This project, a partnership between Rolls-Royce SMR and Great British Energy – Nuclear, aims to advance domestic, low-carbon energy technology.

The BBC reported that the three units have a total output capable of powering approximately 3 million homes for over 60 years.

If all goes to plan, the first “Made in Britain” SMRs could begin feeding the National Grid in the 2030s. 

“This is a critical milestone for Rolls-Royce SMR, for Rolls-Royce and for the UK as the Government looks to realize its ambition of a ‘golden age’ of new nuclear,” said Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls-Royce, on April 13.

Reviving Wylfa

Last November, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed that the coastline of Ynys Môn (Anglesey) would become the official home for three of the UK’s first small modular reactors.

Through a £2.5 billion partnership, the site is being transformed into a high-tech energy hub.

The original Wylfa power station, once Britain’s oldest nuclear plant, concluded 44 years of operations in 2015, having reached the end of its natural lifespan.

The site’s closure was driven by the aging infrastructure of the 1960s-era reactors and the 2008 cessation of the specific fuel production required to run them. 

Although initial replacement plans were abandoned in 2021, the site is now entering a new chapter following the 2024 proposals to revitalize the location as a modern energy hub.

The Rolls-Royce SMR is a 470 MWe pressurized water reactor designed to provide reliable baseload power for at least 60 years. Each unit has a compact footprint of approximately 16 meters by 4 meters. 

According to a World Nuclear News report, the modular design allows 90% of the unit to be manufactured off-site. 

Moving the bulk of the work off-site limits local disruption and ensures a much faster, more predictable construction timeline.

Rolls-Royce SMR chief Chris Cholerton pointed to the project as a clear win for domestic innovation, proving the UK can build its own path to energy security.

UK’s energy independence

The push for energy independence has become a mantra for the UK government. By building locally, the UK aims to insulate itself from global price spikes while meeting its aggressive net-zero targets.

To further the UK’s nuclear ambitions, a £599 million commitment from the National Wealth Fund has been allocated to support the engineering and rollout of these reactors.

The project is a massive engine for employment. Officials estimate it will create 8,000 new jobs. While 3,000 of these roles will be rooted locally in Anglesey, another 5,000 will be spread across the national supply chain.

Industry leaders have hailed the decision as a “historic step” in Welsh industrial growth, positioning the site as the launchpad for Britain’s first fleet of small modular reactors. 

Wylfa has seen false starts before. A previous plan for a large-scale plant was scrapped in 2021, leaving the local community in limbo. While site work begins immediately, a final investment decision isn’t expected until the turn of the decade.

The goal is to clear all planning and regulatory hurdles so the reactors are operational during the 2030s. 

This timeline ensures that once the financial and legal frameworks are settled, the site can begin contributing to the energy grid within the next decade.

Tyler Durden Wed, 04/15/2026 - 05:00

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The move comes as French officials, including Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, publicly pushed back on the idea of West performing in the city, citing his history of antisemitic remarks.

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