Discord is used by several hundred million users around the world. A hybrid app combining voice chats, text chats, forums and social groups it will be 10 years old this year and since almost the beginning of its existence it has gained recognition among players, programmers and other social groups that can be called “technologically aware”. Over time, the platform also went far beyond these categories, reaching universities and companies… and today, especially for people from the younger generation, it is the default platform for ongoing conversations with friends and people with similar interests.
What will you lose without verification on Discord?
From March 2026 However, the way you use the messenger will change beyond recognition. Discord announced in an official announcement that it is introducing age verification for all its users. And one that will be demanding from them sending a scan of your ID or scanning your face. In this way, the system will classify accounts as those belonging to adults and minors, and then decide on the level of rights that will be granted to them.
Verified adult accounts will be able to use the app in the same way as before. Those who do not pass the verification they have to take into account limitations — blocking access to servers and channels marked as NSFW (18+), some graphics will be blurred without the ability to turn off the filters, messages from unknown people will go to a separate inbox, accounts without verification will also not be able to speak on selected social channels such as Podium.
See also: Apple's new CEO will take over at the worst possible time. “We need to break with the legacy of Steve Jobs”
Privacy and anonymity in retreat
Whichever way you look at it – the restrictions are significant and contradict the current policy of Discord, which is known primarily for the great freedom given to users in communication and anonymity. Discord representatives, of course, ensure that all personal data obtained in this way will be safeand after successful verification – deleted, but previous experience allows us to strongly doubt this.
Just a few months ago, information about 70,000 people was stolen. Discord accounts – including documents associated with them used for age verification in countries that required it, as well as information about the names, IP addresses and credit card numbers provided. Unfortunately, a similar scenario may repeat itself and the scale of the damage caused will be even greater.
Discord's decision, although painful for many users, was predictable. Due to the increasing legislation regarding the protection of minors from inappropriate content, more platforms are deciding to make similar moves.
Discord introduced the changes described above last year in the UK and Australiawhich have been at the forefront of implementing stricter regulations. Now the scheme is being transferred to the global version of the application, because similar regulations are expected to be implemented in other countries.
Let us recall that last year Australia has introduced a social media ban for people under 16 years of age. The responsibility for verifying the age of users falls on the platforms and they do it, among others. by verifying the photos sent. Meta itself “cut” over half a million accounts, most of them on Instagram. Only Reddit took legal action against the Australian authorities.
See also: Bezos and other billionaires are rearranging the world. Computers only for selected people
From the new school year, a similar ban – but with an age limit of 15 – is to apply in France. Plans to introduce restrictions also include, among others: Denmark or Türkiye.
In Poland, on the other hand, as PAP reported, The Civic Coalition club is to prepare a parliamentary bill by the end of February limiting the use of social media by children and youth until they are 15 years old. This is an initiative of the Ministry of Education, KO MP Barbara Nowacka and KO MP Roman Giertych. The KO club's college has already given the green light to develop the project.
In addition, Deputy Minister of Digitization Michał Gramatyka announced that at the end of the year the mObywatel application will be expanded to include the so-called attribute. – This technological solution will allow children to limit access to social media – he explained.
— Please remember that verifying access to children's social media will require verifying access for each of us – because each of us will have to log in to the social media platform with our real data. – he emphasized.
Privacy and anonymity defenders are sounding the alarmbut the matter seems to be settled and the relevant laws, despite protests, are being introduced into the legal system. This is, in a way, a pre-emptive move… probably also related to Discord's immediate plans.
Discord is getting ready to go public
Discord Inc. is currently valued at approximately USD 15 billion and it has already been indicated that it will probably be listed on the stock exchange this year, perhaps even in March. As Bloomberg reported, in early January 2026, the appropriate applications needed to conduct the IPO were submitted. The temporal coincidence of the changes does not seem to be accidental – the new restrictions coming into force in March may be closely related to the initial public offering launched at the same time.
