Discord Launches Teen-by-Default Settings Globally as Users Raise Concerns After Massive ID Breach

Discord announced on Feb. 9, 2026, that it is rolling out global teen-by-default safety settings beginning in early March, a major update designed to give all users ages 13 to 17 a safer, more controlled experience on the platform. The company unveiled the changes from its San Francisco headquarters, explaining that the new system will automatically apply stricter privacy controls, content filters and communication limits to teen accounts worldwide. The update arrives as Discord expands age-verification tools and attempts to reinforce trust following a third-party vendor breach that exposed tens of thousands of government IDs last year.

Discord Says Teen Safety Is the Priority

In its announcement, Discord said the new settings are meant to ensure teens “have a safer experience on Discord from the moment they join.” The company emphasized that the update builds on its existing safety architecture and is intended to balance protection with privacy.

Savannah Badalich, Discord’s head of product policy, said, “Nowhere is our safety work more important than when it comes to teen users, which is why we are announcing these updates in time for Safer Internet Day.” She added that the global rollout “builds on Discord’s existing safety architecture, giving teens strong protections while allowing verified adults flexibility.”

How the Teen-by-Default System Works

Starting in early March, all new and existing users will be assigned teen-appropriate settings unless they verify they are adults. These settings include:

• Content filters that keep sensitive material blurred unless a user is age-assured as an adult
• Restricted access to age-gated channels, servers and app commands
• A message request inbox that separates DMs from people a user may not know
• Friend request alerts that warn users about unknown contacts
• Stage channel limits, allowing only age-assured adults to speak on stage

The company says the system is designed to reduce exposure to unwanted interactions while preserving the privacy and autonomy of teen users.

Age Verification Expands With Privacy Protections

To support the new model, Discord is introducing expanded age-assurance tools. Users may be asked to verify their age through:

• Facial age estimation, processed entirely on the device
• Government ID submission, handled by vendor partners and deleted quickly after confirmation
• Its new age inference model, which runs in the background to help categorize accounts without requiring verification every time

The company stressed several privacy protections, including that video selfies “never leave a user’s device” and that ID documents are deleted “in most cases, immediately after age confirmation.”

Users will receive confirmation via a direct message from Discord’s official account once verification is complete.

Discord Introduces a Teen Council

Alongside the safety rollout, it is launching a Teen Council made up of 10 to 12 teens who will advise the company on product decisions, safety features and how young people build connections online. Teens ages 13 to 17 can apply through May 1, 2026.

The company says the council will help ensure the company “understands, not assumes, what teens need.”

The Update Arrives Amid Ongoing Trust Concerns

While Discord is positioning the update as a major investment in teen safety, the rollout comes at a difficult moment for the platform. In October 2025, a third-party support vendor used by Discord was compromised, leaking roughly 70,000 government ID photos as well as usernames, emails and support messages.

Although Discord said its internal systems were not compromised, the breach has left many users wary of providing additional personal information. The broader use of age verification has revived questions about how Discord handles data, protects privacy and depends on outside vendors.

Users Question Whether Discord Can Rebuild Confidence

Across social platforms and Discord communities, users have expressed frustration that the company is requiring age verification shortly after a major ID leak. Some worry the new system will disrupt servers with age-gated content, while others say the platform is asking for sensitive data from a user base that values anonymity.

Privacy advocates argue that even with on-device processing and quick deletion, the system introduces new risks for teens and adults alike.

Discord says the teen-by-default settings will be introduced worldwide in early March, with age-verification prompts appearing as users attempt to enter restricted features. Verified adults will have full control over their settings, while teens will remain in the protected environment unless they age up or appeal their assigned age classification.

The company has not yet indicated whether additional transparency reports or vendor disclosures will accompany the rollout.