Discord will require global age verification through a face scan or ID for full access

Discord has confirmed it will begin rolling out mandatory global age verification in March for both new and existing users. By default, accounts will be placed in a teen appropriate experience unless the user can verify they are an adult. Discord says its age inference model can confirm many adults without extra steps using signals like account tenure, device information, activity data, and aggregated trends across Discord communities, without using private messages or message content.

Users who are not verified as adults will be blocked from age restricted servers and channels and will not be able to speak in livestream style stage channels. Discord will also apply filters to content it detects as graphic or sensitive, show warning prompts for friend requests from unfamiliar users, and route direct messages from unknown contacts into a separate inbox.

Direct messages and unrestricted servers will continue to work, but age restricted areas will stay locked until verification, including servers a user previously had access to, which Discord says will be hidden behind a black screen. The company positions this rollout as part of wider changes responding to international legal and child safety standards. Earlier regional rollouts led to bypass attempts, which Discord says it has addressed, and ongoing improvements are planned. Discord also plans to launch a Teen Council to inform future safety features for younger users.