Discord is beginning the rollout of new age verification measures for users, introducing changes aimed at separating adult and teen accounts while addressing growing concerns about online safety and privacy.
The community messaging platform had previously delayed its age verification plans following criticism from users who raised concerns about identity checks and the potential collection of biometric information. The company is now moving ahead with the rollout as age assurance requirements expand across different regions.
Discord says more than 90% of its users will not need to complete a separate age verification process. Instead, the platform will use existing account information and activity patterns to determine whether an account is likely to belong to an adult, teenager or an unconfirmed age group.
The signals used by Discord can include how long an account has existed, device information and activity patterns. The company says its system does not estimate age using message content, profile information or demographic characteristics.
For users whose age cannot be confidently determined, Discord says alternative methods will be available. These can include using a credit card or age-group information associated with an Apple App Store or Google Play account, rather than submitting a government ID or biometric scan.
The changes will have different effects depending on the account's age classification. Confirmed adult accounts will continue to access the platform normally, while teen accounts will face restrictions on age-restricted servers and channels. Certain messages and friend requests will also receive additional safeguards.
The rollout comes as governments introduce new age assurance requirements aimed at protecting children online. However, privacy and security experts have raised concerns about the risks associated with age verification technologies, putting platforms in a difficult position between regulatory compliance and user privacy.