Discord, the popular instant messaging and VoIP social platform, is preparing to roll out one of its biggest safety updates that will affect its more than 200 million monthly users worldwide.
Starting in early March, the platform will place each account into a “teen-appropriate experience” by default, requiring age verification to unlock adult content and certain features.
The move, which represents one of the most significant policy shifts in Discord’s history, comes amid growing pressure on social media companies to protect young users better.
Teen Settings Become The Default
Under the new system, every account — whether new or existing — will initially face stricter content and communication settings. That means:
- Sensitive content will be blurred
- Age-restricted servers and channels will be blocked
- Direct messages from unfamiliar users will be routed to a separate inbox
- Only verified adults will be able to speak in “Stage” channels
- Certain safety settings can’t be modified without age confirmation
Users who want to access age-restricted communities or unblur sensitive content must verify they are adults.
Discord says the goal is simple: to prevent teens from accidentally encountering adult material while preserving access to general communities and conversations.
“Nowhere is our safety work more important than when it comes to teen users, which is why we are announcing these updates in time for Safer Internet Day. Rolling out teen-by-default settings globally builds on Discord’s existing safety architecture, giving teens strong protections while allowing verified adults flexibility,” Savannah Badalich, Head of Product Policy at Discord, said in a press release on Monday.
“We design our products with teen safety principles at the core and will continue working with safety experts, policymakers, and Discord users to support meaningful, long term wellbeing for teens on the platform.”
AI Will Verify “Most Adults”
After early public backlash over concerns that all users would be required to submit a face scan or government ID, Discord clarified its approach. The company now says most adults won’t need to manually verify their age.
Instead, it will depend on an “age inference” model that uses signals such as:
- Account tenure
- Device and usage data
- Aggregated usage patterns across communities
Discord emphasized that private messages or message content are not used in determining age. It also added that most adults will not need to go through age verification, noting that the AI model will automatically confirm the age group of the majority of adult users.
If the system confidently determines that an account belongs to an adult, those users will automatically gain access to adult features without uploading ID or scanning their face.
When Manual Verification Is Required
If Discord’s system cannot confidently determine a user’s age, it will request additional confirmation through one of two methods:
- Facial age estimation via a short video selfie
- Uploading a government-issued ID through Discord’s vendor partners
According to Discord, facial videos are processed on the user’s device and never uploaded to Discord’s servers. ID documents, it claims, are deleted quickly — in most cases immediately after age confirmation. Discord receives only confirmation of age group, not identity details.
In most cases, the company says, verification will be a one-time process. However, some users may be asked to provide multiple forms of verification if necessary.
Introducing A Teen Council
Along with enhanced teen safety features, Discord is launching a Teen Council made up of 10 to 12 users aged 13 to 17. The advisory group will provide feedback on product design, policies, and safety features.
The company says the goal is to better understand how teens build connections online — rather than making assumptions about their needs.
Availability
The global rollout begins in early March. Both new and existing users who want full access to adult content and age-restricted features may be prompted to verify their age as the changes take effect.
