Discord is the newest firm trying to bolster its baby security (once more). Beginning in March, all customers may have a "teen-appropriate expertise" by default. Unlocking grownup content material and age-gated areas would require a (often one-time) verification course of. Nevertheless, following blowback, the corporate seems to have pivoted. It now says its age prediction AI will confirm the identities of “nearly all of grownup customers” with out requiring a handbook age examine.
The platform's massive security replace encompasses communication settings, restricted entry to age-gated areas and content material filtering. Customers who aren't verified as adults will see blurred delicate content material. As well as, age-restricted channels, servers and app instructions will likely be blocked. DMs and good friend requests from unknown customers will likely be routed to a separate inbox.
In case you're an grownup who didn’t move the automated age examine, eradicating these restrictions would require one in all two verification strategies at launch. You may take a selfie video for age estimation or submit a authorities ID to Discord's vendor companions. (Let's simply hope the age estimations work higher than Roblox's.) The corporate stresses that the video selfies you submit for age estimation by no means go away your machine. And it claims ID paperwork despatched to its vendor companions are deleted shortly, "typically, instantly after age affirmation."
Though Discord says the method will likely be one-and-done for most individuals required to submit handbook verification, some could also be required to submit a number of kinds. Its unique announcement acknowledged that extra verification choices could be launched, together with an age inference mannequin that runs within the background. Nevertheless, following backlash to its preliminary announcement, the corporate now means that the inference mannequin would be the norm for many adults.
“For many adults, age verification gained’t be required, as Discord’s age inference mannequin makes use of account data equivalent to account tenure, machine and exercise information and aggregated, high-level patterns throughout Discord communities,” the corporate wrote in an announcement despatched to Engadget on Tuesday. “Discord doesn’t use personal messages or any message content material on this course of.”
This isn’t the corporate’s first try at beefing up its baby security measures. In 2023, it banned teen relationship channels and AI-generated CSAM. Later that 12 months, it added content material filters and automatic warnings. These adjustments adopted an NBC Information report that 35 adults had been prosecuted on prices of "kidnapping, grooming or sexual assault" that concerned Discord communication.
Alongside at present’s adjustments, Discord is recruiting for a brand new Teen Council. The group will embrace 10 to 12 teenagers aged 13 to 17. The corporate says this "will assist guarantee Discord understands — not assumes — what teenagers want, how they construct significant connections, and what makes them really feel protected and supported on-line." This feels like the company equal of the parenting recommendation: “Don’t simply discuss to your kids; hearken to them, too.”
The kid security adjustments will begin rolling out globally in early March. Each new and present customers could also be required to submit verification for grownup content material.
Replace, February 10, 2026, 5:57 PM ET: This story has been up to date so as to add Discord’s clarification and assertion that claims most adults gained’t must conduct a handbook age examine.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/discord-will-soon-require-age-verification-to-access-adult-content-140000218.html?src=rss