Discord: Age-Verification Starting in March
The platform will limit features for unverified accounts
Discord is undoubtedly the most widely used social platform for voice chat, especially in PC gaming but not exclusively: the social media is also compatible with major consoles, available on smartphones and tablets, and commonly used by small work teams as it allows for organizing free video conferences.
However, starting next month, March, users might find a control awaiting them, designed to tighten the system and, on paper, prevent misuse by unaware users. We are talking about the announcement issued by the company regarding the imminent introduction of an Age-Verification service.
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In practice, from when this measure becomes active [the exact application date has not been announced], all existing and newly created Discord accounts will be set to "teen" by default, with the consequent application of various restrictions. Users who, having already passed the glorious age of 18, wish to continue using the platform with all its functionalities may be required to prove their age.
Discord, the Controversies and Reassurances
We didn't use the conditional by chance: immediately after the statement was issued, the Discord team rushed to publish an addendum specifying that for most users, the activation of the "adult" profile will be automatic and will not require any action or verification on their part. This is because the system should [another obligatory conditional] be able to identify a large number of accounts used by adult users based on the data it already possesses, analyzed by Algorithms and AI.
The addendum proved necessary because, after the announcement of the new limitations, many users expressed perplexity and dismay: at first glance, it seemed that all registered users would have to prove their age, which would have resulted in millions of photos of documents or user selfies flowing into the system's servers. And although Discord goes to great lengths to reassure that such data, once examined and confirmed, would be automatically deleted from their servers, many are unwilling to accept the idea that their sensitive and biometric data could circulate in the hands of a private company that has already experienced security breaches in the past.
Discord and Limitations for Teens
Let's try to understand what limitations a Discord user will face starting in March if their age is neither proven nor assumed by the system's algorithms. First, content filters will be activated, preventing the display of images and videos considered unsuitable for minors. Second, some servers and channels will be labeled as adult-only and thus inaccessible to teen accounts. Private Messages sent from accounts not on one's friend list will be sent to a separate folder by default; similarly, friend requests from unknown players will be accompanied by specific warning messages. Finally, only adults will be able to speak on-stage in public servers.
It must be said that those who use Discord solely for voice chats with their friends or in already controlled environments might not notice any difference even if their account were locked in "teen" mode. If we add to this that many others, as mentioned, should be configured as "adult" without lifting a finger, we can conclude that Discord's revolution might have a rather limited impact on end-users.
...but so many conditionals!...
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