Discord Sets Mandatory Age Verification for All Users

Discord announced on Feb 9, 2026, that the platform will require age verification from all users worldwide, starting in March 2026. The move will automatically assign all existing and new accounts a “teen-appropriate” experience by default, with restrictions on age-restricted content, channels, and communication features until age confirmation.

The policy shift is aimed at expanding safety protections across its platform, “while maintaining privacy, community, and meaningful connection.” According to Discord Head of Product Policy Savannah Badalich, the teen-by-default settings would build upon the platform's existing safety features. “We design our products with teen safety principles at the core,” she said.

Under the new approach, users may need to provide proof of age through facial age estimation or government-issued identification to vendor partners. Verification data is processed with stated privacy protections, including on-device “Video selfies for facial age estimation.” The submitted ID proofs to vendor partners are deleted after age confirmation.

To strengthen their approach, Discord will also implement a new “age inference model,” which will always run in the background and determine whether an account is being used by an adult. Once the verification process is completed, the Discord experience will adapt to the verified age group settings.

Discord’s Mandatory Age Verification and Restrictions

From March 2026, the new default setting will begin phased global roll out. It starts with censoring sensitive, teen-inappropriate content. Any existing or new Discord member will need to be “age-assured as adults” to unblur such content or turn off the setting.  The platforms will also restrict selected “channels, servers, and app commands” for teens.

The community space will also fall under some restricted measures. Friend requests from unknown users will come with a warning prompt, and direct messages from such users will be routed to a separate inbox by default. Only “age-assured” adults will be able to modify these settings.

Only adult users will be allowed to speak on servers, and their age verification status will be kept private. The update further complements Discord’s safety ecosystem with the launch of a Teen Council, a teen advisory board intended to inform future platform decisions. As per Discord’s statement, the council will consist of 10-12 teens. The application process for Discord Teen Council is open till May 1, 2026, for those aged between 13 and 17 years.

The announcement comes amid intensifying global legislative efforts to regulate youth safety and age-gated content on online platforms. Roblox rolled out similar initiatives in 2025.

Discord previously tried to standardize age-verification in UK and Australia in 2025, but some users evaded it using Death Stranding character Sam Porter Bridges’ selfie. The current initiative, which comes after the previous mishap, will likely balance safety with privacy and utility on the platform.