A phased update aimed at strengthening teen safety is set to change how users access Discord. Beginning next month, users who do not verify their age through a face scan or a government-issued ID may face account restrictions, as the platform moves to enforce stricter default settings for unverified accounts.
According to Discord’s blog, the changes will apply to both new and existing users. Until age verification is completed, accounts will be placed under tighter controls. This will limit access to certain features and content, part of a wider effort to create a safer environment for younger users.
The update introduces what Discord calls a “teen-by-default” approach. Under this system, all users start in a safer, age-appropriate setting. To unlock specific features or view sensitive content, users may be required to confirm that they are adults. This includes access to age-restricted channels, servers, app commands, and select message settings.
Discord said users can verify their age in multiple ways. One method is facial age estimation, which uses a short video selfie processed directly on the user’s device. Another option involves submitting a government-issued ID through Discord’s verification partners. The company is also deploying an age inference system that works in the background to assess whether an account belongs to an adult. In some cases, users may need to complete more than 1 verification step if further confirmation is required.
Privacy safeguards are built into the process, according to the company. Age verification requests will appear only within the Discord app and not through email or text messages. The blog stated that video selfies remain on the user’s device, ID documents are deleted quickly after age confirmation, and verification status is not visible to other users. Users can also appeal or retry the process through account settings.
Alongside age checks, Discord is updating default safety controls. Sensitive content will be blurred unless a user is verified as an adult. Only verified adults can access age-gated spaces, speak on stage in servers, or adjust certain direct message settings. Messages from unfamiliar users will be routed to a separate inbox, with warning prompts shown for new friend requests.
Discord said teen safety remains a priority. Similar measures were earlier introduced in the UK and Australia and are now being rolled out globally. Other platforms are also adopting comparable steps, with services like YouTube and Meta adding age checks and safety tools to limit teen access to sensitive content.
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