Discord To Roll Out Mandatory Age-Verification for All Users

• by Colin Kirkland , Yesterday

In line with other digital social platforms like Roblox and YouTube, Discord has announced the rollout of age-verification requirements designed for its teenage users across the globe.

According to the company’s announcement Monday, all new and existing Discord users will receive a “teen-appropriate experience by default” delivered automatically beginning in March. In order to be confirmed as an adult, users must complete an age-verification process.

Adult users will gain access to age-restricted channels, servers, commands and select message requests, while operating outside of teen-specific safeguards, including “updated communication settings, restricted access to age-gated spaces, and content filtering,” said Discord’s statement.

Users will be able to complete their age verification process by completing facial age estimation technology or submitting an ID to Discord’s vendor partners.

Video selfies for facial age estimation “never leave a user’s device,” the announcement reads, whereas identity documents are “deleted quickly” after age confirmation, which will be sent via a direct message from Discord’s official account.

The rollout of its age verification requirements follows Discord’s “teen-by-default” experience launched last year in the U.K. and Australia.

To align itself with evolving laws and policies regarding teenage social media use across the globe, Discord is joining platforms like YouTube, which launched its own age-estimation technology in the U.S. over the summer, and Roblox, which is currently rolling out mandatory age-verification measures surrounding its chat feature.

As Discord further develops its ad business with its rewards-earning Quest ad format and developer-led ecommerce options, the platform is attempting to create a safer place for underage users as well as advertisers following recent lawsuits alleging the company exposed children to harmful content.