Discord to Require Age Verification Globally Starting March 2026
Discord announced on Monday that it will roll out age verification globally beginning in early March 2026, requiring all users to verify their age to access adult content and certain platform features. The social platform is implementing what it calls “teen-by-default settings,” meaning all users will automatically be placed into a teen-appropriate experience unless they complete age verification.
What Changes With Age Verification
Starting next month, all new and existing Discord users will have their accounts reclassified as teen accounts by default. This brings significant restrictions to the user experience:
- Access to age-restricted channels, servers, and app commands will require verification
- Messages from unknown users will be automatically routed to a separate inbox
- Friend requests from strangers will trigger warning prompts
- Speaking on server stages will only be available to verified adults
- Sensitive content will remain blurred unless unblocked through verification
Verified adults, by contrast, will gain full access to the platform and the ability to modify these settings.
How to Complete Age Verification
Discord users can choose between two primary methods to verify their age:
- Facial age estimation: Users provide a video selfie that Discord’s AI analyzes to estimate age
- Government ID submission: Users submit a form of identification to Discord’s vendor partners
Discord notes that some users may be asked to use multiple verification methods when additional information is needed to assign an age group. The company plans to add more verification options in the future.
Privacy Protections and Data Handling
In response to privacy concerns, Discord has outlined several safeguards for its age verification process:
- On-device processing: Video selfies for facial age estimation never leave users’ devices
- Quick deletion: Government IDs submitted to vendor partners are deleted immediately after age confirmation in most cases
- Private status: Users’ age verification status cannot be seen by other users
- Background inference: Discord’s age inference model runs in the background to determine age without always requiring manual verification, using behavioral patterns and metadata
Notably, Discord disclosed last October that approximately 70,000 users may have had sensitive data, including government ID photos, exposed after hackers breached a third-party vendor. The company states it has partnered with different vendor partners for this new rollout.
Part of a Broader Industry Trend
Discord’s age verification initiative aligns with similar moves by other major platforms. Roblox introduced mandatory facial verification for chat access, while YouTube launched its age-estimation technology in the U.S. to identify teen users and provide age-appropriate experiences. These changes reflect growing international efforts to strengthen child safety online.
What Discord Says About the Changes
According to Savannah Badalich, head of product policy at Discord, “Rolling out teen-by-default settings globally builds on Discord’s existing safety architecture, giving teens strong protections while allowing verified adults flexibility. We design our products with teen safety principles at the core.”
The rollout begins in early March 2026 and will be phased globally for both new and existing users.
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