Discord introduces age verification worldwide

The social media service Discord announced on Monday that it will introduce age verification on its platform starting in March. All new and existing user accounts worldwide will then be automatically set to a “teen-friendly experience with updated communication settings, restricted access to age-restricted areas, and content filters,” according to a company statement. To change certain settings or access sensitive content such as age-restricted channels, servers, or commands, as well as selected message requests, users may need to go through an age verification process.

Multiple methods to choose from

Discord users can choose whether to use facial recognition for age estimation or to provide an ID as proof of identity. The company announced that further options would be added in the future. Furthermore, an age estimation model will be implemented that runs in the background and helps determine whether a user account belongs to an adult without users always having to prove their age. If further information is required to assign a user to an age group, users may be prompted to use multiple methods for age verification.

Users not verified as adults will continue to be denied access to age-restricted servers and channels, and content classified as sensitive by Discord will be filtered. They will also receive warning messages for friend requests from potentially unknown users, and direct messages from potentially unknown users will be automatically filtered into a separate inbox.

Creation of a Teen Council

Discord already introduced age verification in the UK and Australia last year. The current global implementation of this protective feature is based on the experiences gained. “The global rollout of teen-default settings builds on Discord's existing safety architecture, providing strong protections for teens while offering flexibility for verified adults,” Savannah Badalich, Head of Product Policy at Discord, is quoted as saying in the company statement.

In addition to enhanced safety features for young users, Discord announced the creation of a Teen Council, consisting of 10 to 12 teenagers. This advisory board is intended to give greater weight to the perspective of young people in Discord's decision-making. “The Teen Council will… help Discord understand – not just assume – what teens need, how they build meaningful relationships, and what makes them feel safe and supported online,” Discord writes. The board's contributions are to be incorporated into future product features, policies, and educational resources, it is further stated. Interested individuals aged 13 to 17 can apply to participate in the Teen Council from now until May 1, 2026.

To better protect children and young people from the negative effects of social media and digital offerings, age verification or age limits for users are increasingly being discussed. In Australia, the world's first comprehensive ban on social media for under-16s came into effect in early December. The British government stated that it is “closely” monitoring Australia's approach. Other countries, however, have already announced similar bans, including Malaysia, Denmark, and Norway. Denmark agreed on a minimum age of 15 for social media access in early November, although parents can allow their children to sign up for these networks at the age of 13. The EU Parliament passed a resolution in late November calling for an EU-wide minimum age of 16 for social media.

(akn)