Discord is implementing mandatory age verification for all users globally, beginning in early March. The platform will default all accounts to a “teen-appropriate experience” unless users verify they are 18 or older, a move aimed at enhancing teen safety and addressing long-standing concerns about harmful content.
The change comes as age verification becomes an increasingly prominent issue for online platforms, facing pressure from legislators and advocates to protect younger users. According to a press release, Discord’s new system will introduce “updated communication settings, restricted access to age-gated spaces, and content filtering” for unverified accounts.
Users will be able to verify their age through either a video selfie or by submitting a government-issued ID. In some cases, Discord may request both methods for additional confirmation. The company emphasized its commitment to user privacy, stating that video selfies are processed on-device and do not leave the user’s device, while submitted IDs are deleted promptly after verification.
For those who do not verify their age, access to certain features will be restricted. These limitations include the inability to unblur sensitive content, access age-restricted servers and channels, or modify direct message settings to allow messages from users they don’t know. Stage channels, used for livestream-like events, will also be limited to verified adults. Users will also receive warning prompts for friend requests from unfamiliar users.
Discord’s global head of product policy, Savannah Badalich, explained that age-restricted servers will appear as a black screen to unverified users until they complete the verification process, even if they were previously members. New age-restricted servers will be inaccessible to unverified users altogether.
The rollout follows a data breach last fall that impacted a third-party vendor handling user IDs for age verification, raising concerns about data security. In response, Discord is highlighting its privacy protections for the new verification process. These include on-device processing of video selfies, quick deletion of submitted IDs, straightforward verification—where most users will only need to verify once—and ensuring age verification status remains private.
Discord also plans to implement an “age inference model” that runs in the background to estimate user age without requiring immediate verification. However, some users may still be asked to provide additional proof of age if the model’s assessment is inconclusive.
The company’s announcement comes as it prepares for a potential public offering and after years of scrutiny regarding inappropriate behavior on the platform. Discord confirmed last year that over 70,000 user IDs were leaked in a data breach, further emphasizing the need for robust security measures and age verification protocols.
