Discord has announced that age verification will be mandatory for all users worldwide from the beginning of March.
With age verification, the application will automatically limit activity to “teen-appropriate experience.”
The ban follows a global effort to make social media a safe place for children.
Under new rules, all accounts will have limited settings by default. To access all features, including age-restricted servers, view sensitive content, or fully participate in voice channels, users must verify their age.
For verification, users must submit a public ID or use facial age estimation through a video selfie.
In order to record users’ sensitive data, Discord emphasizes that video selfies are processed on the device and never stored on its servers.
In addition, submitted IDs are “rapidly deleted” by their suppliers after verification.
The company states that verification will be a one-time process for most users.
Discord will take strict action against unverified accounts. They will have major restrictions, including blocked access to age-restricted servers that will appear hidden, and filtered direct messages from strangers.
The changes come amid mounting regulatory pressure over online age verification and past security incidents on the site.
The rollout also places Discord alongside other prominent platforms that embrace strict age verification, marking an evolutionary shift in how users will access 18+ content online.
