Discord will automatically place accounts in a default “teen-appropriate” experience unless users provide proof of adulthood, a move that has put the platform’s age verification face scan at the center of controversy.

In a blog post shared on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, Discord said the rollout of the “teen-by-default” experience is “part of our broader effort to support age-appropriate experiences on Discord.”

The decision has sparked criticism from users citing privacy and security concerns. According to Newsweek, many of the concerns stem from a 2025 data breach in which hackers targeted Discord’s third-party customer support vendor, 5CA, exposing approximately 70,000 government ID images used for age verification.

What Is Discord’s Age Verification Face Scan?

Discord, which supports over 200 million monthly users, per its website, says most users won’t need to verify their age. Instead, the platform will use a new model that estimates whether an account belongs to an adult based on account age, device, and activity data, and aggregate patterns, per Monday’s press release. Users not verified as adults will see blurred sensitive content and will be unable to access age-restricted communities and server stages.

When verification is required, users can confirm their age via an on-device facial age-estimation selfie or by submitting a government ID to Discord’s vendor partners. Discord says documents aren’t stored permanently, and age verification status isn’t visible to other users, per the press release.

The age verification system will also affect direct messages, with DMs from unknown users going to a separate inbox by default, Newsweek notes. Users will also receive warnings for friend requests from unfamiliar accounts.

Discord Launches Teen Council

In Monday’s release, Discord also announced the launch of its inaugural Teen Council, an advisory body of 10-12 teens aged 13-17. The council will provide feedback to help shape the teen experience on Discord, including safety, connection, and online support.

Per the release, council input will guide future product features, policies, and educational resources, ensuring Discord’s approach reflects how teens interact through gaming, shared interests, and online communities.

“Nowhere is our safety work more important than when it comes to teen users,” Savannah Badalich, Discord’s head of product policy, said in a statement, noting the updates come ahead of Safer Internet Day on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

“Rolling out teen-by-default settings globally builds on Discord’s existing safety architecture, giving teens strong protections while allowing verified adults flexibility,” Badalich continued. “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,” she added.

In 2025, Discord rolled out the “teen-by-default” feature in the U.K. and Australia, per the press release. Now, the feature will be available to users globally beginning in early March.