February 9, 2026
Scan or scram?
Discord will require a face scan or ID for full access next month
Rage erupts: 'scan or scram' as privacy fears spark quit threats
TLDR: Starting in March, Discord will gate adult spaces behind age checks, requiring a face scan or ID. Comments exploded over privacy and control—some vow to quit, others say most will comply—turning a child-safety push into a loud fight over trust, data, and who gets to set the rules.
Discord is flipping the switch next month: every account gets a teen-by-default experience unless you prove you’re an adult. To unlock adult-only servers and speak in live “Stage” rooms, you’ll need either an AI video selfie or a government ID—Discord says the selfie analysis “never leaves your device,” but trust is thin. Unverified users see blacked-out mature servers, stranger DMs get filtered, and anything sensitive is blurred. The company’s announcement comes amid global pressure for stronger child safety.
The comment section is pure chaos. One camp is furious—“This is not OK,” “another one bites the dust,” and the scorchingly direct “F** that, guess I’m leaving…” Popcorn was passed around when someone dropped an archive link for those who couldn’t load the page. Privacy alarms are loud, especially after a past vendor breach exposed age-check data, including ID images. Cynics predict most folks will “pony up” IDs without blinking. Meanwhile, meme-makers revived the Death Stranding photo mode legend that once fooled age checks, joking about speedruns to outsmart the system again. The big clash: protecting kids vs. handing over your face or ID to yet another platform. Some call it responsible; others say it’s a slippery slope to surveillance. Either way, Discord just lit the fuse—and the community’s rage, jokes, and quit threats are the fireworks.
Key Points
- •Discord will implement global age verification in March, setting all accounts to a teen-appropriate default by default.
- •Unverified users cannot access age-restricted servers/channels, speak in stage channels, and will face content filters and DM safeguards.
- •Existing age-restricted servers will be hidden behind a black screen until users verify; joining new restricted servers also requires verification.
- •Verification options include AI facial age estimation via video selfie (claimed on-device) or submitting a government ID to vendor partners.
- •The rollout follows UK/Australia pilots, attempted bypasses that were patched, and a prior vendor breach that exposed age verification data including ID images.