Discord is rolling out a global age verification system next month, requiring users to prove they are adults to access full platform features. Starting then, all accounts will default to a “teen-appropriate” experience unless users verify their age. Unverified users will be restricted from accessing age-restricted servers and channels, speaking in stage channels, and viewing content Discord flags as graphic or sensitive. They’ll also receive warnings for friend requests from unfamiliar users, and messages from unknown contacts will be filtered into a separate inbox. Even if users were previously part of an age-restricted server, they won’t be able to view or send messages there until they complete verification. Discord will display a black screen over these servers until age is confirmed. New access to age-restricted servers will also be blocked without verification. The move is part of a broader trend among online platforms responding to international regulations aimed at improving child safety and enforcing age checks. Discord previously tested age verification in the UK and Australia, where some users bypassed the system using creative workarounds like Death Stranding’s photo mode. The company quickly patched those exploits but acknowledges users will continue trying to circumvent the system and plans to keep improving its defenses. While the goal is to protect younger users, some adult users may avoid verification due to privacy concerns—especially after a major data breach in October involving one of Discord’s former third-party vendors, which exposed age verification data, including government ID images. To verify age, users can choose between two options: facial age estimation or submitting a government ID. The facial estimation method uses AI to analyze a video selfie taken on the user’s device, with the data never leaving the device. If the system misjudges the user’s age group, they can appeal or switch to ID verification. Any ID images are reviewed by a third-party vendor and deleted immediately after confirmation. Discord emphasizes it does not perform facial recognition or store biometric data. It also does not keep personal details like names, cities, or document types used during verification. For users who don’t want to submit an ID or use facial estimation, Discord is introducing an age inference model. This system analyzes user behavior—such as the games played, activity patterns, and time spent on the platform—to estimate age with high confidence. If the system determines a user is likely an adult, they won’t need to go through the additional verification steps. Discord’s global head of product policy, Savannah Badalich, notes that most users won’t notice a change in their experience, as the system primarily affects access to truly adult or age-inappropriate content. However, the company acknowledges some users may leave due to the new requirements and is preparing for potential user loss, while also planning ways to win them back.