Discord said it will require users to complete age verification beginning in March or risk losing access to age-restricted servers and certain messaging features, as the platform steps up efforts to enhance safety for younger users.
Under the new policy, users must verify their age through either a video selfie or submission of an identity document, according to a company announcement. Those who do not complete the process will see age-restricted channels blurred and may face limits on messaging functions, including voice chats. Direct messages from suspected strangers may also be redirected to a separate inbox.
The move comes as Discord faces increased scrutiny over user safety and compliance with emerging regulations in several countries. The company said it plans to implement the changes globally, noting that additional verification requirements are already in place in markets such as Australia and the United Kingdom to comply with local laws.
In addressing privacy concerns, Discord said age-estimation videos would remain on users’ devices and not be stored externally. “Identity documents submitted to our vendor partners are deleted quickly — in most cases, immediately after age confirmation,” the company said. It added that an automated “age inference model” would be introduced to help streamline the process, though details on its effectiveness were not disclosed.
See also: OpenAI Launches Trusted Access Pilot for Advanced Cyber-capable AI Model
The announcement follows an attempted data breach in October 2025 involving third-party vendors, which potentially exposed government identification data and personal information of around 70,000 individuals. Discord said it has since strengthened security measures, with the upcoming verification rollout expected to test those protections when it takes effect in March.
Source: Discord