In March, Discord will be introducing a face scan or ID check for all users who want full access to the platform. This includes access to age-restricted channels, sensitive content, and removal of extra safeguards for direct messages. All users, globally, will be blocked from viewing potentially inappropriate content until they can prove they are an adult user.

Discord calls it the “teen-by-default” experience

These restrictions were previously rolled out to the UK and Australia last year – the global rollout is happening in early March. All users will be subject to the “teen-by-default” experience, providing users with limited access to the platform until they prove their age with a face scan or a form of identification. In the UK and Australia, this asks users to prove they are 18+ to access associated content, though Discord’s official blog post only references a 13+ restriction as part of this rollout.

Default Safety Settings

• Content Filters: Discord users will need to be age-assured as adults in order to unblur sensitive content or turn off the setting.
• Age-gated Spaces – Only users who are age-assured as adults will be able to access age-restricted channels, servers, and app commands. 
• Message Request Inbox: Direct messages from people a user may not know are routed to a separate inbox by default, and access to modify this setting is limited to age-assured adult users.
• Friend Request Alerts: People will receive warning prompts for friend requests from users they may not know.
• Stage Restrictions: Only age-assured adults may speak on stage in servers.

Source: Discord

It was only in October last year that Discord admitted hackers stole “approximately 70,000” government IDs from users submitting documentation through a third-party vendor on the platform. It should be noted that this was not a direct breach of Discord, but rather a breach of one of the outsourced vendors used to verify age for Discord. Even still, it’s a worrying reminder of the security hazard as Discord prepares to expand the system globally.

“Privacy and security of our users is a top priority,” says Discord, and it has promised various ways of keeping your data safe – or better yet – wiped from the internet completely. There are two ways of proving your age:

• Video selfie – Discord uses AI to analyze a user’s video and determine age. Discord says this video never leaves the user’s device.
• Identity documents – These are submitted to one of Discord’s vendor partners and “are deleted quickly – in most cases, immediately after age confrimation”

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.