Discord age verification: How it works, when it happens
Age verification is spreading on the internet. Following Roblox's implementation of the age verification process, Discord is the next platform in line to do it.
So, what is Discord's age verification process and what happens if users don't go through with it?
We'll break it down.
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Discord, the online chat platform that's extremely popular with gamers, has announced that it will be rolling out a mandatory age verification process for some of its users starting in March.
According to Discord, most users will not have to go through the process. The platform uses an "age inference model" that analyzes the account tenure, device and activity data, and patterns across Discord communities to place users in the appropriate age group: Adult or Teen. (Discord says they do not use any private messages or message content for this process.)
However, Discord will require additional information from some users in order to verify their age.
Those users will be met with a prompt asking them to verify their age when the age verification system goes live worldwide next month. To begin the process, users simply need to click the Get Started button on the pop-up.
Next, users will be prompted to upload a selfie or a photo of a government ID. In some instances, if the age verification system has trouble estimating the age of a user simply from their selfie, the user will be required to submit both a selfie and ID.
According to Discord, uploaded selfie and ID photos are deleted after the verification process is complete.
Once a user submits this information, they will receive a DM on Discord informing them that they've been placed in either the teen or adult age group.
What happens if you don't verify your age on Discord?
According to Discord, all user accounts that require age verification going forward will be teen-by-default. This sounds exactly like what it is. If Discord cannot confirm an account owner's age, the account will, by default, be placed in the teen age group. Teenagers will not have to take part in the age verification process as their accounts will already be placed in the appropriate age group.
However, in order to see certain content and take part in certain platform experiences, some adults will need to verify their age to be placed in the adult age group. If an adult does not verify their age, their account will be placed in the teen group.
Teen accounts will be unable to see certain content. Sensitive content will be blurred by Discord. The only way to unblur content or change that content setting platform-wide will be to verify your age in order to be placed in the adult age group. Discord users in the teen age group will also be unable to access age-restricted channels, servers, and app commands.
When it comes to direct messages, teen age group accounts will have a separate inbox for messages from users that they don't already know on the platform. Teen age group users will also receive warning prompts when they receive friend requests from users they may not know.
Additionally, teen age group users will be unable to speak on stage in Discord servers.
Users who go through the age verification process and are deemed to be younger than the minimum age required as mandated by their country (age 13 in the U.S.) will be banned from Discord entirely.
If the age verification process incorrectly marks a user as underage, Discord has an appeal process that users can follow as well.
Discord has already rolled out the age verification process in the UK and Australia in order to comply with local laws. The company says it will further roll the process out globally in "early March."
UPDATE: Feb. 13, 2026, 3:54 p.m. EST This piece was updated to provide clarification from Discord regarding which users will need to verify their age.
Topics Gaming Social Media
