Discord to Begin Requiring Age Verification in March

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Starting in early March, Discord will begin requiring all users worldwide to verify their age. Discord announced this on February 9th, explaining that the change is meant to better protect younger users while still respecting privacy. The rollout will happen gradually, in stages.

Since launching in 2015, Discord has become the most popular app for gamers to chat using voice and text. It allows players to create and join communities, and some game developers also use it to connect with and support their fans. Discord is available on all kinds of devices – computers and phones – and is regularly updated with improvements and fixes. While not every new feature has been perfect, Discord continues to grow and change based on user feedback.

Discord to Roll Out Controversial Age Verification Measure Globally

Discord is updating its settings for all users worldwide in early March as part of a new safety feature. This change, previously tested in the UK and Australia to meet local laws, will set everyone to a “teen” status by default. This means Discord will filter some content—like channels and features with age restrictions—for all users, both new and existing.

Discord lets users confirm their age by either scanning their face or providing ID to a trusted partner. This can be done directly within the Discord app on computers or phones, and you only need to do it once. While most users will only need to verify their age this one time, Discord may occasionally ask for additional information through different methods if needed.

Discord’s attempts to verify users’ ages in the UK weren’t well-received, and some users quickly found a way around the system using a feature from the game Death Stranding. As a result, Discord changed companies and promised that any documents submitted for age verification wouldn’t be stored for long, stating that they are “deleted quickly” by their partners. Discord hasn’t revealed which companies they are now working with for this process.

Discord’s Shaky History With User Data

Okay, so Discord’s announcement about age verification is getting a lot of hate, and honestly, I get it. I’ve seen a bunch of people saying they’re gonna cancel Nitro if they go through with this. A big worry for a lot of us is how Discord will handle all the info they collect – they’ve had data breaches before, remember? Back in October 2025, a company they used for customer support got hacked, and usernames, some payment info, and even IP addresses were stolen. Discord said they shut down the access and emailed everyone affected, but it still makes you think twice about giving them more personal data, you know?

Currently, Discord is accepting feedback on its new age verification process through its website and social media. Many users have noted the timing of this rollout, as Discord is reportedly preparing to go public with an IPO. Given the ongoing negative feedback, it’s unclear whether Discord will change its plans or move forward as scheduled.

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2026-02-09 22:07