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Discord requiring face scan or ID for full access
Discord will require global users to verify their age via facial estimation or ID to access adult content, defaulting accounts to teen settings to enhance safety, officials said.
- On Feb. 9, 2026, Discord announced a global teen-by-default experience for all users, with age verification starting next month and a phased rollout in early March to access restricted content.
- Last year, Discord piloted teen-by-default settings in the U.K. and Australia, framing the global rollout as a privacy-forward step amid pressure from regulators, safety experts and policymakers.
- The verification system uses on-device facial age estimation with video selfies that never leave the device, while IDs submitted to third-party vendor partners are deleted quickly and an age inference model runs in the background.
- Unverified accounts will face new access limits: they cannot enter age-restricted servers or speak on Stage, and messages from unfamiliar users go to the Message Request Inbox with Friend Request Alerts enabled.
- Discord is recruiting a Teen Council now through May 1, 2026, following an October vendor data breach, and acknowledges some users may avoid verification as Roblox and YouTube adopt similar steps.
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41 Articles
41 Articles
Discord turns to facial recognition in child safety crackdown
The rollout, beginning in early March, will make teen-appropriate settings the default for all users, with adults needing to verify their age to loosen protections. The move follows similar actions by rivals facing intense scrutiny over child safety.
·Paris, France
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Discord rolls out teen-by-default settings globally; video selfies, IDs ensure age-appropriate access from March
Users may verify their age through facial age estimation, ID submission, or Discord’s automatic system, with strong privacy protections. The rollout begins in early March, giving teens safer interactions.
·New Delhi, India
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources41
Leaning Left9Leaning Right5Center13Last UpdatedBias Distribution48% Center
Bias Distribution
- 48% of the sources are Center
48% Center
L 33%
C 48%
R 19%
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