Discord, the popular chat and community platform known for connecting gamers and interest groups, is about to make a sweeping change to how its more than 200 million users worldwide access its service. Starting in March 2026, every user—new and existing—will be required to verify their age through a face scan or by submitting a government-issued ID. Those who don’t comply will find themselves placed under teen-level restrictions, with access to sensitive content, age-gated spaces, and even some communication features sharply curtailed.
The move comes as part of Discord’s effort to bolster teen safety and respond to mounting legislative pressure around the world. According to a company blog post cited by 9to5Mac, “all users worldwide will have their accounts updated to a teen designation by default,” which means updated communication settings, restricted access to age-gated spaces, and content filtering will be the new norm. Adults must verify their age to regain unrestricted access, and in some cases, Discord may require both a face scan and a submitted ID.
Discord’s policy head Savannah Badalich told BBC, “Nowhere is our safety work more important than when it comes to teen users. Rolling out teen-by-default settings globally builds on Discord’s existing safety architecture, giving teens strong protections while allowing verified adults flexibility.”
For those wondering what exactly will change, the list is extensive. Unverified accounts will be unable to unblur sensitive content, access age-restricted channels or servers, or modify message request inbox settings. Direct messages from unknown users will be routed to a separate inbox, and only verified adults will be able to speak on stage in servers. Friend request alerts will become more prominent for those who haven’t verified their age. These changes, as reported by GamesIndustry.biz, mirror recent moves by other platforms like Roblox, TikTok, and Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, all of which have come under scrutiny for their handling of child safety online.
Discord’s new verification system relies on artificial intelligence to estimate a user’s age from a video selfie, or to compare a selfie to a government ID. The company has emphasized that video selfies for facial age estimation never leave a user’s device, while identity documents sent to vendor partners are deleted quickly—"in most cases, immediately after age confirmation," as outlined in the company’s official statements. The company also promises that a user’s age verification status will remain private and unseen by other users.
However, not everyone is convinced by these assurances. The memory of a major data breach from October 2025 still lingers. According to Ars Technica and BBC, hackers managed to steal government IDs of 70,000 Discord users from a third-party service used for age verification in the UK and Australia. At the time, Discord warned users that the hackers’ goal was to “extort a financial ransom from Discord.” This incident has fueled skepticism among users who are now being asked to trust Discord with even more sensitive personal information.
One user, Karl Blessing, voiced a common concern in a top comment highlighted by 9to5Mac: “I simply do not trust their staff or third party with my government ID, those other companies have said the same about privacy assurances and still had breaches with little to no consequences to them.”
On social media, backlash has been swift and vocal. Many users are uneasy about the prospect of sharing biometric data or government documents, especially after the previous breach. Some security experts, like Ars Senior Security Editor Dan Goodin, have issued stark warnings: “The best advice for people who have submitted IDs to Discord or any other service is to assume they have been or soon will be stolen by hackers and put up for sale or used in extortion scams.”
Discord, for its part, is trying to strike a balance between safety, privacy, and user experience. Alongside the age verification rollout, the company is introducing an age inference model—a background system that helps determine if an account belongs to an adult, sometimes without requiring direct user input. Still, if the system can’t be sure, users may be asked to provide multiple forms of verification.
Most users will only need to complete the process once, Discord says, but the company acknowledges that determined individuals may attempt to circumvent the checks. Savannah Badalich told The Verge that Discord expects some users will look for loopholes, but the company plans to “try to bug bash as much as we possibly can.”
Discord’s new approach is not happening in isolation. The platform has already implemented age verification in the UK and Australia, driven by recent legislation. Yet, even there, some users reportedly found ways to evade the system—such as using video game photo modes to spoof facial scans, according to Eurogamer. The company is now hoping global rollout and tighter controls will close these gaps.
The broader context is a tech industry under pressure. Lawmakers and regulators across the globe are demanding stricter online safety measures for minors. Discord’s CEO Jason Citron was grilled in a tense U.S. Senate hearing in 2024, alongside leaders from Facebook, Snap, and TikTok, about their respective platforms’ child safety records. The new Discord policies, including a teen advisory council, are part of a wave of reforms as platforms scramble to avoid further legal and reputational fallout.
Industry analysts are divided on how the changes will play out. Drew Benvie, head of social media consultancy Battenhall, told BBC that while “the sentiment behind creating a safer community for all social media users is a positive move,” implementing such a system across millions of communities could be “fraught with issues.” He added, “Discord could lose users if its implementation of age verification backfires, but it could equally attract more new users who will be drawn to its new standards for online safety by design.”
Meanwhile, Discord is preparing for a public stock offering, making the stakes even higher. The company’s reputation for privacy and safety is under the microscope as it seeks investor confidence and continued user growth.
As the March deadline approaches, Discord users face a choice: verify their age and regain full access, or accept a more restricted, teen-focused experience. Whether this bold move will set a new industry standard or prompt a user exodus remains to be seen. What’s clear is that Discord’s gamble on safety and privacy will be closely watched—not just by its users, but by the entire tech world.