The short answer
Discord rolled out mandatory age verification and teen-by-default safety settings in early 2026. For teens, this means restricted access to adult content and stronger default protections without needing to do anything. For adults, unlocking age-restricted features now requires a facial scan or government ID. The changes are meaningful, but not foolproof. Discord is still a platform built for adults, and verification can be bypassed. Our age recommendation: 17+ only. Under 17: not recommended. Discord is rated 17+ in the App Store, and we agree with that rating.
In this post: how the verification works, the pros and risks, our age guide by age group, and FAQs.
{{subscribe-form}}
What's actually changing on Discord?
Starting March 2026, every Discord user is treated as a teen by default, unless they verify they're an adult. That means safer settings out of the box for younger users, including:
- Mature and sensitive content blurred automatically
- Age-restricted channels and servers blocked
- Direct messages from strangers filtered
- Friend requests from unfamiliar accounts flagged with a warning
- No access to live Stage channels
For most kids using Discord to game and chat with friends, the day-to-day experience won't look dramatically different. What changes is how hard it is to stumble into content that isn't age-appropriate.
How does Discord age verification work?
Most adults won't need to do anything. Discord's first step is a background "age inference model" that silently analyses behavioural signals—things like how long your account has been active, the times of day you use Discord, which games you play and broader platform patterns. Private messages are not included. According to Discord, the vast majority of adult users will be confirmed this way, automatically, without a face scan or ID ever being requested.
For accounts the inference model can't confidently classify as adult, there are two options:
- Facial age scan. You record a short video selfie. Software estimates whether you're likely over 18. According to Discord, the scan runs entirely on your device. Your image is never sent to their servers. They only receive a pass/fail result.
- Government ID upload. If the facial scan isn't conclusive, or you choose this route directly, you submit a government-issued ID to a third-party verification vendor. Discord says the ID is deleted shortly after your age is confirmed.
Think of it as three tiers: most adults sail through on inference alone; some are asked for a selfie; a smaller number end up submitting an ID. The ID route is the last resort, not the norm, though it's also the one with the most privacy risk attached (more on that below).
The pros of Discord age verification
- It’s safer by default: Teens no longer have to opt into protection, it's on automatically.
- There’s less exposure to harmful content. Blurred images, filtered DMs and blocked age-restricted servers all reduce the chances of a teen accidentally (or intentionally) accessing adult material.
The risks of Discord age verification
- It can be bypassed. Within days of Discord's announcement, workarounds for the facial scan were circulating online. Determined teens will most certainly find them.
- The 2025 data breach is worth knowing about. In September 2025, roughly 70,000 users had sensitive data exposed, including government ID photos, after hackers accessed a third-party support system Discord had been using for age verification. Discord has since updated its vendors and practices, but the incident is a reminder that any system collecting ID data carries real risk.
- Discord wasn't built for kids. Age verification is a layer added on top of a platform designed for adults. It raises the floor, but it doesn't change the foundations.
Is Discord safe for kids? A breakdown by age
- Under 13: Not recommended. Discord's minimum age is 13, and the platform's content and community culture aren't designed for younger children. Consider Kinzoo instead.
- 13-16 years: Not recommended. Even with teen-by-default protections, the platform's culture and community norms aren't built for this age group.
- 17 years: Proceed with caution. Discord is rated 17+ in the App Store, and this is the minimum age we'd consider. It’s also good to know which servers they're in, and keep the conversation open.
- 18 years: Full access available after verification.
What can my kid use instead of Discord?
If your child is mainly on Discord to chat while gaming, Kinzoo Messenger’s Jams feature was built exactly for that. Kids can hang out, talk and play together in a space where every connection is approved by a parent and there are no strangers. Same fun, without the risk.
What you can do right now
- Talk to your teen. Let them know changes are rolling out in March. Ask how they use Discord and which servers they're part of.
- Review their server list together. Discord's safety changes won't remove teens from servers they're already in. Take a look at what's there.
- Set up Discord's Family Center. Discord offers a family-linking feature that gives parents visibility into their teen's activity without reading their messages. It's not perfect, but it's something.
- Keep the conversation going. Age verification is one tool. Your relationship with your kid is the most important one.
Frequently asked questions
Does Discord's age verification actually work?
Partially. The teen-by-default settings are meaningful. They add real friction for younger users trying to access adult content. But the facial scan verification can be bypassed, and no system is foolproof. It's an improvement over what existed before, but it doesn't replace parental involvement.
What happens if my child lies about their age on Discord?
If your kid is already on Discord, they're likely already classified by Discord's age inference model. That looks at account history, usage patterns and behaviour. If the model has flagged them as a teen, they'll be in the restricted experience automatically. If it hasn't, they may have access to more than you'd expect. The only way to know is to look at their account settings together and check which content filters and protections are actually active.
If your kid is signing up now, new accounts start in teen mode by default. They won't be asked to declare their age upfront. If they try to access restricted content, like unblurring sensitive images, joining age-restricted servers or disabling message filters, they'll hit a verification prompt requiring a facial scan or government ID. That's a real barrier. But a teen who doesn't push into those areas may never be prompted at all, so the protection is meaningful but not absolute.
Is Discord's age verification safe? What about privacy?
Discord says facial scans stay on-device and are never stored. Government IDs submitted to third-party vendors are deleted after confirmation. That said, the September 2025 data breach in which ID photos were exposed is a reminder that these systems aren't risk-free. It's reasonable to be cautious about submitting government ID to any platform.
What age is Discord appropriate for?
Discord is rated 17+ in the App Store, and we agree with that rating. Even with the new safety defaults, Discord is a platform built for adults, and the culture in many servers reflects that. Our recommendation is 17+, and only then with active parental involvement and an honest conversation about what's on the platform.
Do parents get notified about their child's Discord activity?
Not automatically. Discord's Family Center lets parents link their account to their teen's and see which servers they're in and who they're talking to without reading messages. You'll need to set this up proactively. It doesn't send alerts.
Should I let my 12-year-old on Discord?
We wouldn’t recommend it and neither does Discord, whose minimum age is 13. But honestly, we'd extend that further. Discord wasn't built for kids or teenagers, and the new age verification changes don't change that. Our recommendation is 17+. If your child wants a safe place to connect with friends online, Kinzoo is built specifically for that, with safety built in from the start.
Sources: Discord Blog (January 2026), k-ID Partnership Announcement, Discord Safety Center, reported breach disclosures (September 2025).
{{messenger-cta}}
-01.webp)
-01.webp)
-01.webp)
