Discord Plans Age Verification for Adults as Teen Experience Becomes Default

Many tech companies have stepped up efforts to protect underage users, from Roblox adding age checks for chat to ChatGPT introducing an age prediction model. Now, Discord is moving in the same direction with a major platform-wide change.

Discord age verification is coming next month

According to Neowin, Discord will begin a global rollout next month that defaults every account to a teen-appropriate experience, regardless of age. The platform will automatically adjust communication settings and enforce content filtering by default.

Under the new setup, Discord will blur sensitive content and block access to age-restricted servers, channels, and app commands. Direct messages from unknown users will go to a separate inbox, while friend requests from unfamiliar accounts will trigger warning prompts. Teen users also won’t be able to speak on stage in servers.

Discord previously tested this teen-focused experience in the UK and Australia last year. The company’s decision to expand it globally suggests those trials met internal safety goals.

How age verification will work for adult users

Adult users who want to access a non-teen experience may need to verify their age. Discord plans to offer multiple verification methods. One option uses facial age estimation through a short video selfie that stays on the user’s device. Another requires submitting identification documents to third-party vendors, which Discord says deletes the data shortly after verification.

Instead of storing an exact age, Discord assigns users to an age group. If the system can’t determine an age with confidence, it may request additional verification steps. Discord may add more verification options later, and users can appeal and retry the process if they believe the platform assigned them to the wrong age group. Age verification status will remain private.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp is also developing new parental control features aimed at protecting underage users.