Discord has announced that age verification will be mandatory for all users worldwide starting in early March.
With age verification, the app will automatically restrict activity to a “teen-appropriate experience.”
The ban follows a global attempt to make social media a safe place for children.
Under the new rules, all accounts will default to restricted settings. To access full features, including age-restricted servers, view sensitive content, or fully participate in voice channels, users verify their ages.
For verification, users must submit a government ID or use a facial age estimate via a selfie video.
To record users’ sensitive data, Discord emphasizes that selfie videos are processed on the device and are never stored on its servers.
Additionally, providers “quickly delete” submitted IDs after confirmation.
The company claims that verification will be a one-time process for most users.
Discord will take strict action against unverified accounts. They will have significant 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 launch also places Discord alongside other prominent platforms adopting strict age verification, marking an evolutionary shift in how users will access 18+ content online.
