Title: Discord's Age Verification Rollout: A Step Backwards or Forward?
Discord, the popular online communication platform for gamers, has decided to delay their global age verification rollout following backlash from users. The company had announced a phased rollout that would implement video selfies and forms of identification to determine a person's age group. This was supposed to begin in early March and provide underage users with a "teen-appropriate experience" including updated communication settings, content filtering, and restricted access to age-gated spaces.
However, the announcement received immediate criticism from users who pointed out Discord's October security breach of a third-party provider that exposed government ID photos for thousands of users. In response to this backlash, Discord's Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Stanislav Vishnevskiy admitted in an update on Tuesday that the company "missed the mark" and announced the rollout would be delayed until the second half of 2026.
Vishnevskiy acknowledged that introducing a verification process touching identity and verification would naturally lead to strong feelings from users, but he also emphasized that Discord should have provided more details about their intentions and how the process works in hindsight. He assured users that over 90% of them will never need to verify their age to continue using Discord, with only a small percentage requiring verification through options designed to tell the platform only their age without revealing their identity.
If these users choose not to verify their age, they can still keep their account, servers, friends list, messages, and voice chat but will be restricted from accessing age-restricted content or changing certain safety settings. While this move may seem like a step back for Discord, it could also be seen as an opportunity for the company to reevaluate its approach and learn from past mistakes.
In terms of historical context, online platforms have been grappling with issues related to age verification and user privacy for years now. With increasing concerns about data breaches and misuse of personal information, Discord's decision to delay their rollout may signal a shift towards more cautious approaches when it comes to implementing new features that touch upon sensitive areas like identity and verification.
As we move forward, it will be interesting to see how Discord addresses these concerns and whether they can regain the trust of their users. The significance of this news event lies not only in its immediate implications but also in what it tells us about the challenges faced by tech companies when trying to balance user privacy with providing a safe and secure platform for communication.
Source: [Original Article](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/discord-pushes-back-age-verification-rollout-backlash-rcna260604) #discord
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