Imagine you log into Discord, ready to chat with friends, but suddenly you’re met with a wall of verification requirements. The platform is betting big on safety, but at what cost to the users who just want to connect and communicate?
Starting next month, Discord is rolling out new age settings across the globe. All accounts, whether new or existing, will default to what they call “teen-by-default” settings. If you’re an adult eager to access age-restricted content, be prepared to prove your age.
As the world grows increasingly wary of social media’s impact on younger users, this initiative feels particularly timely. Australia has already taken bold steps, enforcing a ban on social media accounts for children under 16. Other countries like Spain, Denmark, and Malaysia are not far behind, contemplating similar measures.
Discord previously put age verification in place in Australia and the U.K. to comply with the Online Safety Act, a comprehensive law introduced to shield minors from explicit content related to self-harm and eating disorders. Now, even in regions without legal mandates, Discord is set to enforce these age settings globally.
“Rolling out teen-by-default settings globally builds on Discord’s existing safety architecture, giving teens strong protections while allowing verified adults flexibility,” wrote Savannah Badalich, head of product policy at Discord, in a press release. Discord is committed to placing teen safety principles at the forefront and plans to collaborate closely with safety experts and users.
How Will Age Verification Work? You Have Options
To prove your age, there are two primary methods. You can take a video selfie that estimates your age using facial recognition technology, which Discord assures is processed locally on your device. Alternatively, upload a government-issued ID through one of Discord’s third-party partners, who promise to delete these documents shortly after verification.
Just like a bouncer checking IDs at a club, you’ll need to present some proof to gain access to sensitive content. But what if you’re hesitant about the implications of verification? Discord aims to expand its age inference model, a system designed to ascertain whether an account likely belongs to an adult without constantly needing manual checks.
What Happens if You Don’t Verify Your Age?
Users not confirmed as adults will encounter numerous restrictions. Access to sensitive content, age-restricted channels, and features like Discord Stage—a space for live discussions—will be off-limits to you. The stakes have never been higher in the battle for age-appropriate engagement.
However, the road to age verification is not without controversy. Previous attempts have seen users creatively sidestepping established systems. Plus, a reported breach last October involving a third-party vendor left some uneasy, with sensitive information exposed, including photos of government IDs.
As Discord moves forward, one can’t help but wonder: Is the quest for safety worth the potential drawbacks for community interaction? Perhaps this new model will foster a safer space, or will it feel like a restriction imposed by an overprotective guardian?