Discord will require age verification for access to adult content, using on-device facial age estimation or government IDs with off-device checks and on-device processing and deletion of selfies after age is confirmed.

Additional safety features include warning prompts for friend requests from unfamiliar accounts and routing messages from unknown users to a filtered inbox.

A global teen-safety push will roll out a default teen-appropriate experience for all new and existing users starting in early March.

Reaction to the policy change includes ongoing user frustration and consideration of migrating to alternative platforms amid controversy.

Public sentiment is mixed, with privacy concerns, fears about past breaches, and worries that stricter access could curb engagement or push users away.

The debate centers on balancing safety and inclusivity with user privacy and data security in this policy shift.

Regulators and digital rights groups say the changes may reduce minor exposure to grooming but warn of new security risks and normalization of intrusive identity checks.

There are concerns about privacy and censorship, even as the change aims to boost safety for younger users and could invite overreach or excessive content restrictions.

The rollout follows regulatory pressure from Australia, the UK, the EU, and growing US efforts toward stronger age verification.

UK, EU, and parts of the US are pursuing tighter age-verification measures for social platforms, with industry research cited on teen safety online.

The move responds to parental concerns and regulatory trends, aligning with EU digital safety laws and potential US state requirements.

Interest in alternative messaging platforms is rising, with notable search spikes for Matrix, IRC, and Mumble.