• Discord will require all users to verify their age to access adult content.
• The age verification will roll out globally by early March 2024.
• Users will need to upload a photo ID or use facial recognition technology.
• Default settings will restrict content for users who do not verify their age.
• This move aligns with a trend among social media platforms enhancing child safety.

Discord has announced that it will require all users to verify their age through facial recognition or by uploading a form of ID to access adult content. This new measure will be widely implemented starting in early March 2024, marking a significant shift in how the platform manages user safety. Currently, Discord has over 200 million monthly users and aims to create a "teen-appropriate experience by default," as stated by Savannah Badalich, the head of product policy at Discord, according to BBC.

The upcoming age verification process will necessitate that users provide either a video selfie or a photo of their ID. Discord assures users that the data used for these checks will not be stored and the ID uploaded will be deleted post-verification. This procedure reflects a growing concern over child safety on social media, with many platforms facing scrutiny over how they protect young users, especially as self-reported ages have often been unreliable, allowing minors to bypass safety measures, according to Le Monde and Channel News Asia.

The shift toward mandatory age verification comes amid similar actions taken by other social media platforms such as Roblox and Meta. For instance, Roblox recently implemented global facial recognition requirements for users to access certain features. The increasing legislative focus on child safety in the digital space is reflected in the ban on under-16s using social media, which is gaining traction in several countries, including Australia, as reported by Le Monde and Channel News Asia.

As discussions around online addiction and safety continue, Brown and other social media companies are simultaneously introducing measures aimed at effectively managing content exposure and enhancing user protection. This industry-wide shift follows mounting pressure from lawmakers and advocacy groups about children's safety online, especially with recent trials highlighting the addictive nature of platforms like Meta's offerings and YouTube, according to BBC, Le Monde, and Channel News Asia.