February 12, 2026
Face scans vs freedom
Welcoming Discord users amidst the challenge of Age Verification
Discord refugees rush to Matrix—then hit age checks, card paywalls, and safety drama
TLDR: Discord’s age checks are pushing users to Matrix, but Matrix also needs stricter verification and may use credit cards to confirm age. Commenters are split between privacy panic, “no face scans ever,” paywall suspicion, and calls for stronger anti‑harassment tools—making the move anything but simple.
Discord’s plan to age‑verify everyone next month has people stampeding to Matrix, and boy, the comments are a battlefield. Matrix waved a friendly “Welcome!” and reminded folks it’s open, decentralized—more like email than a single app. But then came the record scratch: many servers, including Matrix.org, still have to follow local laws like the UK’s Online Safety Act, which means actual age checks—not just clicking “I’m 18.” The team says they’re exploring privacy‑preserving options, and yes, paying for a Premium account with a credit card might double as proof of age. Cue uproar.
The hottest take? People refuse to scan their faces. One user vowed to uninstall the second a “face scan pop‑up” appears. Another ranted about Discord’s “phone walls” and decade‑long ban purgatory—turning sign‑up into a boss fight. Skeptics piled on Matrix too, noting it’s UK‑based and warning that “pay to prove you’re an adult” feels like a trap. Meanwhile, a serious thread erupted over safety: some say Matrix can’t call itself a “home” until it can stop coordinated harassment, including “transphobic hate waves.”
Gamers tossed in jokes about missing Discord must‑haves—push‑to‑talk, game streaming, custom emoji—while others cheered the promise of future “account portability.” The vibe? Fleeing one walled garden only to find new locks at the gate. Drama status: ongoing, spicy, and very online.
Key Points
- •Discord’s upcoming age verification for all users has driven a surge of new signups to the matrix.org homeserver.
- •Matrix is an open standard enabling multiple clients and servers, with self-hosting and federation across the network.
- •Server admins must comply with local laws; Matrix.org updated terms for the UK’s OSA and notes similar legislation in AU, NZ, and the EU, with movement in the US and Canada.
- •Matrix.org is evaluating privacy-preserving age verification; a paid Premium account via credit card can verify age, with phased rollout and upgrade support via email.
- •Planned features include account portability (with forthcoming MSCs), while several Discord-like features remain unprioritized; clients like Cinny and Commet may be closer to Discord.