Discord, the messaging platform widely used by gamers, will implement global age-verification measures next month to enhance user privacy protection. Referred to as ‘Teen-by-Default Settings’, this new policy will automatically set accounts to a ‘teen-appropriate’ mode unless users verify their age.

Unverified Discord users will face limitations accessing age-restricted servers and will be subject to mandatory content filtering blocking mature content. Users will have the option to verify their age through a facial age estimator or by submitting official identification, with more verification methods to be added later.

Additionally, Discord will introduce an ‘age inference model’ that continuously assesses whether an account belongs to a teen or an adult by monitoring user activity. Savannah Badalich, Discord’s Head of Product Policy, emphasized that these changes aim to bolster teen safety while maintaining flexibility for verified adults.

The rollout of these default settings globally follows a successful implementation in the UK and Australia last year under the Online Safety Act 2023. Discord faced criticism during the UK launch when over 70,000 facial scan images were potentially exposed. To address concerns, Discord assures users that facial scans remain on their devices, and identity-related documents are promptly deleted after age verification in most cases.

Discord users will not have visibility into the age verification status of other users. The platform is accessible on various devices, including PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and mobile devices, ranking as the fourth most popular free social networking app on iOS behind Threads, WhatsApp, and Telegram. With over 250 million monthly active users, Discord continues to be a prominent communication platform for a diverse user base.