Discord to Implement ID Verification for Full Feature Access

Discord revealed on Monday that it will be implementing “teen-by-default” settings worldwide next month. This means that users will need to navigate some additional steps to access the full range of features, as the default settings will limit entry to certain age-restricted areas and filter out content deemed inappropriate for teenagers. To unlock all of Discord’s capabilities, users will need to share their face with the platform.

As a popular messaging app among gamers, Discord has become a staple in the gaming community, especially with its integration into PlayStation and Xbox ecosystems. It’s also a go-to for virtual tabletop gaming, allowing users to launch Roll20 directly through the platform. Over the past few years, particularly during the COVID pandemic, Discord has gained significant traction in gaming circles.

According to the official announcement, “Discord users can choose to use facial age estimation or submit a form of identification to its vendor partners, with more options coming in the future.” The company emphasizes its commitment to user privacy, stating that video selfies will remain on the user’s device, documents sent to vendor partners will be deleted promptly after age verification, and no one else will see a user’s age verification status. The verification process is designed to be a one-time requirement “in most cases.”

Beginning in early March, all Discord users will have age-restricted settings by default, with the platform assuming everyone is a teenager. Completing the age verification process will grant access to features that long-time users are familiar with. According to the announcement, these features will not be available to teenagers with Discord accounts. “Rolling out teen-by-default settings globally builds on Discord’s existing safety architecture, giving teens strong protections while allowing verified adults flexibility,” stated Savannah Badalich, Discord’s head of product policy. This approach is similar to the age verification system introduced by another platform last fall. Discord began testing a comparable system in the UK in 2025, although a hack that year may have compromised thousands of government-issued IDs.