Discord is going to lock accounts by age worldwide, forcing ID or face scans to regain full access

Discord age verification will become mandatory for all users worldwide starting March 2026, automatically restricting both new and existing accounts until age confirmation is completed. The rollout will happen in phases, but the end result is the same: accounts will default to a “teen-by-default” status until users prove otherwise. Discord says the change is aimed at strengthening child safety, reflecting a broader shift across tech and gaming platforms toward stricter age-based protections.

Discord age verification goes global in March 2026

The update will not be limited to new sign-ups. Existing users will also be affected as the system expands globally, meaning long-time accounts may suddenly face restricted access. Discord has acknowledged that the transition may feel disruptive, but insists it is necessary to comply with evolving safety standards and regulatory expectations.

Once an account is age-locked, users may lose access to content and features considered inappropriate for minors. This includes adult content filters, age-gated servers and channels, and participation in live Stage events. Direct messages from people a user does not know will be routed to a separate inbox, while friend requests will appear with warning prompts before interaction is allowed.

How users can unlock their accounts

To remove age restrictions, Discord will offer two verification options. Users can complete facial age estimation by submitting a short video selfie analyzed by an AI model, or they can upload a government-issued ID through Discord’s third-party verification partners. Discord claims selfie analysis runs locally on the device and that identity documents are deleted quickly, in most cases immediately after age confirmation.

However, the reliance on external vendors has raised concerns. In October 2025, Discord disclosed that a former verification partner suffered a breach that may have exposed government ID images belonging to roughly 70,000 users. While Discord stated its own systems were not compromised, critics argue that expanding ID-based verification worldwide significantly increases privacy risks, especially when deletion policies are described in vague terms.

AI age checks and the risk of user backlash

Looking ahead, Discord plans to introduce additional enforcement tools, including an AI-based age inference model that would attempt to determine whether an account belongs to an adult without requiring direct verification. The system would run in the background using behavioral signals rather than documents or selfies. Discord has not explained how accurate this model will be or how users will be notified if misclassified.

Company leadership has admitted that the changes may push some users away. Product policy head Savannah Badalich acknowledged that Discord expects a hit to engagement but said the company is already accounting for that impact and plans to find new ways to bring users back. As reactions continue to unfold online, trust, transparency, and data handling are likely to determine whether the rollout succeeds or accelerates user frustration.