Discord is rolling out global teen safety features to provide an age-appropriate experience for all users aged 13 and above. This builds on prior initiatives in the UK and Australia and extends protections worldwide.
Teen-by-Default Experience and Safety Settings
All new and existing users will receive a teen-appropriate default experience with updated communication and content settings. Features include:
- Age-Gated Spaces: Restricted channels, servers, and app commands are accessible only to verified adults.
- Content Filters: Sensitive content remains blurred unless a user is age-assured as an adult.
- Message Requests & Friend Alerts: Messages from unknown users are routed to a separate inbox, and friend requests from unknown accounts trigger warnings; only verified adults can modify these settings.
- Stage Restrictions: Only verified adults may speak on stage in servers.
Users may need to complete an age-verification process to access certain content or change settings. This applies to age-restricted channels, servers, commands, and select message requests.
Privacy-Forward Age Verification and Outlook
Discord’s age-assurance system allows users to verify their age while maintaining privacy. Users can:
- Use facial age estimation processed entirely on-device.
- Submit identification documents to vendor partners, which are deleted promptly after verification.
- Rely on Discord’s age inference model, which runs in the background to determine adult accounts without constant verification.
Key protections include:
- Verification status is private.
- Most users complete the process once; multiple methods are requested only if needed.
- Confirmation is sent via direct message from Discord’s official account.
- Users can view or appeal their assigned age group in “My Account” settings.
- Discord does not send emails or texts about age verification.
Discord said that additional verification methods will be introduced over time to provide more flexible options for users.
Discord Teen Council
Discord is forming a Teen Council of 10–12 teens aged 13–17 to provide input on product and safety features. The council will guide decisions on:
- Safety tools
- Product features
- Policies and educational resources
Applications for the Teen Council are open until May 1, 2026.
Broader Safety Ecosystem
The teen-by-default initiative is part of Discord’s wider safety ecosystem, including:
- Ignore
- Family Center
- Teen Safety Assist
- Warning System
- Guardian’s Guide
Availability
The teen-by-default settings and enhanced safety features will begin rolling out globally in early March 2026.
Speaking on the update, Savannah Badalich, Head of Product Policy at Discord, said:
Nowhere is our safety work more crucial than when it comes to teen users, which is why we are announcing these updates in time for Safer Internet Day. Rolling out teen-by-default settings globally builds on Discord’s existing safety architecture, giving teens strong protections while allowing verified adults flexibility. We design our products with teen safety principles at the core and will continue working with safety experts, policymakers, and Discord users to support meaningful, long-term wellbeing for teens on the platform.