Discord is set to implement a major overhaul of its child safety measures, requiring users 13 years old and above to undergo age verification before accessing adult content. Starting in March, the platform will default to a "teen-appropriate experience," with features like restricted access to mature channels, servers, and commands blocked for unverified users.
Those who wish to unlock adult content or join age-restricted spaces will be required to complete a one-time verification process. This can be done through either a selfie video for age estimation or submission of a government-issued ID to Discord's vendor partners. The platform assures that the submitted videos are never shared and IDs are deleted immediately after confirmation.
While the process is expected to be straightforward, some users may be required to provide additional forms of verification. Discord also plans to introduce an age inference model in the future, which will run in the background to help with the verification process.
The move comes as no surprise, given Discord's recent efforts to enhance its child safety measures. In 2023, the platform banned teen dating channels and introduced content filters and automated warnings following a report on adults being prosecuted for crimes involving Discord communication.
To further improve its understanding of teenager needs, Discord is recruiting a new Teen Council consisting of 10-12 teens aged 13-17. The group aims to provide guidance on what teenagers need in terms of safety, support, and meaningful connections online.
The child safety changes are set to roll out globally in early March, affecting both new and existing users. As part of the rollout, Discord is emphasizing its commitment to ensuring a safe online environment for all users.
Those who wish to unlock adult content or join age-restricted spaces will be required to complete a one-time verification process. This can be done through either a selfie video for age estimation or submission of a government-issued ID to Discord's vendor partners. The platform assures that the submitted videos are never shared and IDs are deleted immediately after confirmation.
While the process is expected to be straightforward, some users may be required to provide additional forms of verification. Discord also plans to introduce an age inference model in the future, which will run in the background to help with the verification process.
The move comes as no surprise, given Discord's recent efforts to enhance its child safety measures. In 2023, the platform banned teen dating channels and introduced content filters and automated warnings following a report on adults being prosecuted for crimes involving Discord communication.
To further improve its understanding of teenager needs, Discord is recruiting a new Teen Council consisting of 10-12 teens aged 13-17. The group aims to provide guidance on what teenagers need in terms of safety, support, and meaningful connections online.
The child safety changes are set to roll out globally in early March, affecting both new and existing users. As part of the rollout, Discord is emphasizing its commitment to ensuring a safe online environment for all users.
still, i guess its better than nothing. and the fact that they're recruiting a teen council is kinda cool - maybe they'll actually understand what teens need online. anyway, gotta give discord some props for taking steps in the right direction 
i mean i get it, safety first and all that, but what about people who are just trying to relax after work or something and don't wanna deal with the whole verification thing? won't that be a bit of a hassle? 
. But seriously, the new age verification process sounds like a solid plan, can't wait to see it roll out in March 
. And omg yeah the Teen Council is a genius idea! They need to listen to teens on how to make the platform safer and more fun for them 
they're taking a big step by making age verification mandatory, it's not like they can just let 12-year-olds access explicit content and expect nothing to go wrong... i do hope the selfie video process is more than just a joke tho, don't wanna see some 13-yr-old feeling embarrassed in front of their friends 
. and introducing an age inference model in the future sounds like a good idea, hopefully it's not just another tech company trying to make money off our kids 
.
finally, some sense on Discord 
not exactly ideal for anyone involved. The selfie video age estimation thing is...interesting, though 
discord is taking some serious steps towards becoming a safer space for teens 
? anywayz, the new teen council thingy is a huge step forward! 
u gotta love how discord is listening to teens and trying to make things better for us. and btw, having an age inference model in the future is like, so cool 
it's gonna be way easier for them to verify ur age, no more guesswork or awkward selfies 
just saw that discord is making a big change to their age verification process... like, good on them tho 
i mean, it's about time, right? 
march can't come soon enough for this one 