Discord To Require Age Verification for Adult Content Starting March
In an effort to bolster its child safety, Discord is set to introduce new measures starting in March. Initially, the platform will have a "teen-appropriate experience" by default, with users over 18 needing to manually verify their age to access adult content and join age-gated spaces.
However, following backlash from users, the company has revised its approach. The majority of adults will now be subject to an automated age verification process using Discord's AI-powered prediction model. This model assesses factors such as account tenure, device information, and community activity patterns to determine a user's age.
For those who don't pass the automatic age check, removing restrictions will require a one-time verification method – either submitting a government-issued ID or taking a selfie video for age estimation. The company claims that both of these methods will be kept confidential and deleted immediately after confirmation.
Despite initial reservations about an age inference model running in the background, Discord has revised its stance. According to the company, most adults won't need to undergo manual verification, as the AI model provides accurate assessments based on aggregated data across communities.
These changes follow Discord's recent attempts to boost child safety measures. In 2023, it banned teen dating channels and CSAM (child sexual abuse material) generated by AI. The platform has also added content filters and automated warnings to protect minors.
The introduction of these new policies will roll out globally in early March, with both existing and new users potentially required to submit age verification for adult content.
In an effort to bolster its child safety, Discord is set to introduce new measures starting in March. Initially, the platform will have a "teen-appropriate experience" by default, with users over 18 needing to manually verify their age to access adult content and join age-gated spaces.
However, following backlash from users, the company has revised its approach. The majority of adults will now be subject to an automated age verification process using Discord's AI-powered prediction model. This model assesses factors such as account tenure, device information, and community activity patterns to determine a user's age.
For those who don't pass the automatic age check, removing restrictions will require a one-time verification method – either submitting a government-issued ID or taking a selfie video for age estimation. The company claims that both of these methods will be kept confidential and deleted immediately after confirmation.
Despite initial reservations about an age inference model running in the background, Discord has revised its stance. According to the company, most adults won't need to undergo manual verification, as the AI model provides accurate assessments based on aggregated data across communities.
These changes follow Discord's recent attempts to boost child safety measures. In 2023, it banned teen dating channels and CSAM (child sexual abuse material) generated by AI. The platform has also added content filters and automated warnings to protect minors.
The introduction of these new policies will roll out globally in early March, with both existing and new users potentially required to submit age verification for adult content.
I'm kinda okay with this move from Discord. I mean, their previous approach sounded a bit too invasive, but now it sounds like they're finding a balance. The AI model thing still has me a little uneasy, but I guess it's better than manually checking every single user's ID. And hey, at least they're making an effort to keep the verification process anonymous and secure. Still, it's a bit frustrating that we have to deal with this in the first place... I mean, can't we just use our common sense about online content? 
But on the other hand, I'm all about freedom of expression... and I don't want some AI model making judgments about someone's age 
. What if it's wrong? What if it misses a 25-year-old trying to escape their parents? 
I get that safety first, but come on, that's just weird. Can't they just trust us adults to do our own thing? 
Still, I guess it's better than nothing. And hey, at least Discord is trying to adapt and learn from its mistakes 
.
. Will the AI model live up to its promises? Only time will tell 
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. It's about time we prioritize our digital safety, especially when it comes to minors. The fact that they're introducing an AI-powered age verification model is a big deal – I mean, who doesn't trust a robot to tell if you're 18 or not 
. But seriously, it'll be a huge relief knowing that we won't have to worry about our age being inferred and potentially causing trouble.
. No one wants to have to take a selfie for age estimation – it's just too much info 
. And can we please get some more transparency around how this AI model works? We need to make sure it's fair and accurate.
Discord's just gonna be like a super strict gatekeeper now, right? So basically they're saying "oh you're an adult, prove it" instead of trusting their own users to know what's good. I mean, AI-powered age verification is still a pretty sketchy concept, but whatever. They say the model is gonna be accurate and all that jazz, but what about all the 25-year-olds who just wanna watch some anime with their friends? Are they gonna have to take a selfie and submit their ID every time they want to join a server? It's just too much, you know? 
. Adding AI-powered age checks makes total sense – it's not like anyone's gonna get caught out by just having a generic filter 
. One-time government ID submissions or selfies for age estimation might seem sketchy, but at least it's kept private and temporary, right? 
. It's all about finding that sweet spot between user-friendliness and community safety 
at first id be all like lol how r dey gonna catch me but now its more like cool, they got a system in place 
and btw i hope dey test dis ai model on a smaller scale 1st so its not like dey gonna send it out here and it start causin problems 
. Still, I guess it's better than nothing 
. Seriously tho, AI can't even recognize grandma's face 
, how r u gonna make sure that's not a 40 yr old in ur 60s account? 