Platform adds alternative methods that do not require video selfies or ID to verify age

Discord has re-launched its age verification process for all users, introducing alternative methods that do not require video selfies or ID.

In an update posted yesterday, Discord co-founder and chief technology officer Stanislav Vishnevskiy stated that users can verify their age using credit cards, the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, Google Wallet, or AgeKey (which does not share personal or private data).

"By launching a global approach with non-biometric options, we're getting ahead of laws that might ask us to implement something less privacy-focused," said Vishnevskiy.

"The decisions policymakers make now will shape how platforms advance both teen safety and privacy for years to come, and I encourage people to make their perspectives heard where they live."

In February, Discord announced that age verification would be required for all users starting in March.

The rollout was postponed to the second half of 2026 due to privacy concerns. At the time, Vishnevskiy acknowledged that Discord "should have provided more detail about [its] intentions and how the process works."

In its latest update, Discord said it would "publicly document every third-party age assurance vendor and make it clear who each vendor is," which it has done since and can be accessed here.

Discord has also published its age group estimation methodology and released its first age assurance data in the 2026 Transparency Report, which includes information from the UK and Australia launches.

"Previously, I said trust is earned through actions, not posts," said Vishnevskiy.

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