TL;DR
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is prioritizing children’s online safety and has singled out Roblox as a focus. With federal action stalled, states are increasingly leading reforms such as age verification rules and new obligations for online platforms.
What happened
New York governor Kathy Hochul has made online safety for children a key initiative of her administration and is reportedly turning attention to the Roblox platform. The move comes amid broader momentum at the state level: as lawmakers in Congress have struggled to advance internet-safety legislation, states have stepped in to craft their own rules. The kinds of measures being pursued at state level, according to the available report, include age verification requirements and fresh mandates for how online platforms operate around children. Specifics of Hochul’s plan and the exact measures she announced were not included in the excerpted report, so details such as proposed rule text, enforcement mechanisms, or timelines are not confirmed in the source.
Why it matters
- States are filling a legislative gap while federal progress on internet-safety laws has slowed.
- Roblox is identified as a prominent platform used by children and is now under state scrutiny.
- New state rules could create compliance obligations for platforms that host child users.
- A state-led approach risks a patchwork of differing rules across U.S. jurisdictions.
Key facts
- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has made kids’ online safety a cornerstone of her administration.
- Hochul has identified Roblox as a platform to target in those efforts.
- The report notes that progress in Congress on internet-safety reforms has stagnated.
- As a result, states have become primary drivers of online-safety policy changes.
- State-level reforms mentioned include age verification laws and new requirements for online platforms.
- The excerpt does not include the full details of what Hochul announced about Roblox.
- Source: The Verge, published 2026-01-12 (excerpt provided).
What to watch next
- Specific elements of any regulation Hochul proposes for Roblox — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether New York will adopt age verification or other concrete platform requirements — not confirmed in the source.
- How Roblox and other platforms respond to state-level pressure and whether they change policies — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Roblox: An online platform and game-creation system popular with children and teens where users can create, share, and play user-generated games.
- Age verification: Techniques or processes used to confirm a user's age before granting access to age-restricted content or services.
- Online platform regulation: Laws or rules that set obligations for internet services and platforms, often covering user safety, content moderation, and privacy.
- State-level policy: Legislation or regulatory actions enacted by individual U.S. states rather than by the federal government.
Reader FAQ
What exactly did Gov. Hochul announce about Roblox?
Not confirmed in the source.
Why is Roblox being targeted?
The excerpt says Roblox has often flown under the radar and is being eyed in the governor's push to improve kids’ online safety.
Is this a federal or state-led effort?
This is being framed as a state-led effort by New York; the report notes Congress has stalled on related reforms.
When would any new rules take effect?
Not confirmed in the source.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is making kids' online safety a cornerstone of her administration, and she's eyeing a platform that has often flown under the radar: Roblox. As progress…
Sources
- New York wants to regulate Roblox
- Protecting Our Kids: Governor Hochul Announces Nation …
- Hochul targets Roblox, kid-focused platforms in renewed …
- Gov. Hochul announces proposals to target AI, online …
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