Discord Hits Pause On Controversial Age Verification Plans

Discord Backtracks on Age Verification Plans

In a surprising twist, Discord has pulled back on its controversial age verification rollout. Originally scheduled for March, the plan has been scrapped temporarily, with a new timeline pushing the rollout to the latter half of 2026. This decision comes after significant user pushback when the digital communication platform proposed that users either submit to a face scan or provide ID forms to maintain full access.

Discord’s Revised Approach

Stanislav Vishnevskiy, co-founder and CTO, shared in a recent blog post that age verification, when it does come, will be considerably different. "We're committed to offering a wider range of verification options to ensure our users feel comfortable," Vishnevskiy wrote. The company is testing alternatives like credit card verification and aims to complete these before any global implementation.

Transparency and New Features

Discord is also emphasizing transparency by planning to disclose information about every verification vendor and their practices on their website. New requirements for vendors include that any facial age estimation be conducted entirely on-device. Additionally, Discord will introduce a spoiler channel option, allowing communities to discuss sensitive topics without needing to age-gate entire servers.

What’s Next for Discord?

Looking forward, Discord will release a technical blog post detailing the workings of their automatic age determination systems. This will include the various signal categories and privacy measures in place, allowing users to understand and evaluate the platform's approach. Moreover, future transparency reports will feature data on age assurance, detailing how many users engaged in verification, the methods used, and system efficiency.

Discord's latest changes aim to ensure that when age verification requirements do come into play, the process will be much smoother and less contentious than originally planned. What remains to be seen is how these adjustments will be received by its user base in the future. Let us know your thoughts on these changes in the comments below.