Discord has announced that age verification will be mandatory for all users worldwide starting in early March.
With age verification, the app will automatically limit the activity to “a teen-friendly experience.”
The ban follows a global attempt to make social media a safe place for children.
Under the new rules, all accounts will use restricted settings by default. To access all features, including age-restricted servers, view sensitive content, or fully participate in voice channels, users verify their age.
For verification, users must submit a government ID or use facial age estimation via video selfie.
To save sensitive user data, Discord emphasizes that video selfies are processed on the device and are never stored on its servers.
Additionally, submitted identifiers are “promptly deleted” by their providers upon confirmation.
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 limitations, including blocked access to age-restricted servers, which will appear hidden, and filtered direct messages from strangers.
The changes come amid growing legislative pressure over online age verification and previous security incidents on the site.
The rollout also places Discord alongside other leading platforms adopting strict age verification, marking an evolutionary shift in how users will access 18+ content online.
