Discord, the popular free communication app for gamers and communities, has delayed its global age verification requirements and 'Teen-by-Default' policy until the second half of 2026, delaying any changes until at least July.
The announcement came from chief technology officer Stanislav Vishnevskiy after weeks of widespread user backlash and a 10,000% surge in searches for Discord alternatives. Many users are uncomfortable submitting video selfies or government IDs to access age-restricted channels.
Despite Discord's assurances that personal data never leaves the device and is deleted after verification, trust has been low since a hack exposed 70,000 users' data in October. Discord has dropped its third-party vendor Persona after ties to US government surveillance were discovered.
For the full rollout, Discord plans to use non-identifying systems like credit card verification and an internal age estimation system covering 90% of users. However, in the UK, Australia, and Brazil, facial age estimation or ID checks will still be required due to local laws.
Discord promises to document all verification vendors, offer multiple choices, and implement strict data privacy measures. Vishnevskiy acknowledged past mistakes, stating, 'Trust is earned through actions over time.' The company aims to rebuild trust by shipping promised improvements.