Discord is flipping the script on user safety next month by forcing every single user into a restricted teen mode until they prove otherwise. The chat platform announced Monday it's rolling out mandatory age verification globally starting early March, putting all 200 million-plus monthly users into a "teen-appropriate experience" by default. Want to unblur sensitive content, modify DM settings, or access age-restricted servers? You'll need to scan your face or fork over an ID first.
Discord just made a bet that could reshape how 200 million users experience its platform - and not everyone's going to be happy about it. Starting early March, the chat platform is implementing what it calls "teen-by-default" settings globally, effectively locking every user into a restricted experience until they prove they're adults through facial scanning or government ID verification.
The announcement, made Monday in a press release, marks one of the most aggressive age verification rollouts by a major social platform. Unlike opt-in systems, Discord's approach assumes every user is a minor unless proven otherwise. That means if you want to unblur sensitive content, turn off automatic message filtering from strangers, access age-restricted channels, or even speak on stage in servers, you'll need to verify you're an adult first.
"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, Discord's head of product policy, said in the announcement. The company frames the move as proactive rather than reactive, though the timing suggests otherwise.
Discord's verification system offers two primary methods. Users can either complete a facial age estimation using video selfies - which the company insists never leave your device - or submit a government-issued ID to Discord's vendor partners. The platform says it plans to add more verification options down the road, and notes that some users might need to use multiple methods when additional confirmation is required.
