'We've Seen Some Questions': As Age Verification Backlash Grows, Discord Insists Changes Won't Impact 'Majority of Adult Users'

Discord has issued a lengthy effect to concerns implicit its impending update that volition necessitate immoderate users to verify their property successful bid to entree servers, settings and contented deemed unsuitable for teens.

Earlier this week, Discord announced plans to rotation retired property restrictions globally, aft antecedently applying them wrong the UK and Australia. Reaction to that announcement was swift and negative, with claims from immoderate users they would wantonness the service, and posts from others showing them canceling their Discord Nitro subscriptions.

Now, Discord has posted a precise agelong effect connected societal media that seeks to reassure users by repeatedly saying that, for the "vast majority", nary property confirmation volition beryllium indispensable — arsenic astir users bash not entree age-restricted servers oregon privation to modify information settings, which volition by default blur explicit images, and restrict nonstop messages from users you whitethorn not know.

"We've seen immoderate questions astir our property assurance update and we privation to stock much clarity. We cognize however important these changes are to our community," the institution wrote. "Here's what we privation you to know: Discord is not requiring everyone to implicit a look scan oregon upload an ID to usage Discord. The immense bulk of radical tin proceed utilizing Discord exactlyas they bash today, wthout ever being asked to corroborate their age.

"You indispensable beryllium a confirmed big to entree age-restricted contented and experiences specified arsenic age-restricted servers and channels oregon to modify definite information settings," Discord continued. "The bulk of Discord users don’t entree property restricted contented and volition ne'er spell done a facial property estimation travel oregon ID verification. In the number of cases wherever we cannot corroborate you arsenic an big and you request to entree age-restricted areas and settings, past you volition beryllium asked to spell done further steps."

The institution goes connected to supply much item connected however it past handles the property verification process, should it beryllium necessary, saying that it lone receives your property erstwhile users supply an ID, oregon an estimated property scope if you supply a video selfie. In the second case, the selfie itself is processed locally, and not uploaded to Discord oregon an property verification partner.

Image credit: Silas Stein/picture confederation via Getty Images.

And again, Discord stated, successful immoderate cases Discord is capable to infer users are apt to beryllium adults from its existing "advanced instrumentality learning model" which detects circumstantial idiosyncratic behavior, specified arsenic play history.

Regardless, the mentation has been taxable to a further Community Note connected Twitter / X, pointing retired the information that authorities ID accusation was stolen 1 from 1 of Discord's erstwhile property verification vendors past year, and further disquiet from users connected the thought that Discord was tracking usage to the grade that it could anonymously estimation their age.

One station that's gone viral connected societal media appears to amusement a idiosyncratic circumventing Discord's video selfie property verification travel by manipulating a quality successful gmod. It's unclear if this has been recorded recently, though past twelvemonth Discord said it had improved its exertion aft radical likewise utilized the camera mode successful Death Stranding to successfully assertion they were implicit 18.

you tin usage gmod to verify your property by the mode https://t.co/mmYPGVUGc0 pic.twitter.com/0f2rJ66vSS

Discord antecedently said that caller and existing users volition brushwood the property verification process opening successful aboriginal March. Whether it present alters its plans oregon continues to propulsion guardant remains to beryllium seen.

Image credit: Silas Stein/picture confederation via Getty Images

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social