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Discord Enforces Teen‑By‑Default Mode March 2026, Prompting Streamer Privacy Outcry

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  • Alastair streams as Eret online to millions of followers.
    Alastair streams as Eret online to millions of followers.
    Image: BBC
    Alastair streams as Eret online to millions of followers. (Alastair/Eret) Source Full size
  • Toby says there are currently no good rivals to Discord but "if a new platform was to be widely adopted I'd move"
    Toby says there are currently no good rivals to Discord but "if a new platform was to be widely adopted I'd move"
    Image: BBC
    Toby says there are currently no good rivals to Discord but "if a new platform was to be widely adopted I'd move" (Toby James Smith/Tubbo) Source Full size

March Rollout Places All Users in Teen‑By‑Default Mode Discord will automatically assign every account to a teen‑by‑default setting starting March 1, restricting access to age‑sensitive servers unless users verify adulthood. Verification can use existing activity data, a facial scan processed locally, or government‑issued ID, with scans stored only on the device and deleted after the check. The policy has already been active in Australia and the UK since 2025 and will expand globally [1].

Streamers Cite Prior ID‑Photo Leak and Demand Transparency Prominent creators Alastair “Eret”, Toby “Tubbo”, and Katie “Pikachulita” referenced an October 2025 breach where a third‑party verification firm exposed 70,000 ID photos, prompting Discord to cut ties with that vendor. They argue the new facial‑scan requirement could create a similar risk and potentially be shared with governments, raising distrust despite assurances from product‑policy head Savannah Badalich. Their criticism has driven a surge in Reddit discussions about abandoning Discord [1].

Vendor Persona’s Thiel‑Linked Backing Raises Additional Privacy Concerns The UK trial of the verification system uses Persona, a company financially backed by Peter Thiel’s investment firm, linking the rollout to a high‑profile tech investor. Critics worry that this connection could facilitate data sharing beyond Discord’s stated local‑only processing. Discord maintains that IDs are used solely for age checks and then deleted, but the association with Persona intensifies scrutiny from privacy advocates [1].

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Timeline

Jul 2025 – The UK Online Safety Act comes into force, mandating major porn sites to implement robust age‑verification checks for users, a requirement that later triggers widespread compliance challenges and traffic declines [2][3].

Aug 2025 – VPN usage in the UK more than doubles after the age‑check rollout, with daily VPN users rising from about 650 000 to over 1.4 million and more than 10.7 million VPN‑app downloads recorded on mobile devices, undermining the effectiveness of the new safeguards [2][4].

Oct 2025 – A third‑party age‑verification firm leaks 70 000 official ID photos; streamer Alastair “Eret” cites the breach as evidence of privacy risks and Discord severs ties with the vendor [1].

Oct 2025 – Aylo reports a 77 % drop in UK traffic to Pornhub following the July age‑verification law, highlighting the immediate impact of the Online Safety Act on user behaviour [3][2].

Dec 4, 2025 – Ofcom fines AVS Group £1 million and an additional £50 000 for failing to install a “highly effective age assurance” mechanism within 72 hours, warning of daily £1 000 penalties for continued non‑compliance [5].

Dec 10, 2025 – After the fine, AVS Group rolls out a new age‑assurance method on select sites, which Ofcom deems potentially highly effective, while the regulator continues to monitor progress and notes ongoing VPN circumvention [4].

Jan 27, 2026 – Aylo announces that, starting 2 February, only pre‑verified UK users will retain access to Pornhub, YouPorn and Redtube, describing the move as “difficult” and blaming the Online Safety Act for failing to meet its objectives [3].

Feb 2, 2026 – Pornhub blocks UK visitors who have not previously verified their age, limiting them to a login wall; the company cites the July 2025 Online Safety Act and denies that the restriction aims to drive sign‑ups, while experts call for device‑level verification by Apple and Google [2].

Feb 18, 2026 – Discord implements a “teen‑by‑default” mode for all users beginning in March, restricting access to age‑sensitive servers unless users verify adulthood via activity data, facial scan, or ID; product‑policy head Savannah Badalich stresses that scans remain on the device and the default protects teens while giving verified adults flexibility [1].

Mar 2026 – Discord’s teen‑by‑default setting activates, requiring verification to access adult‑oriented communities; the policy, already trialled in Australia and the UK since 2025, uses the Persona vendor linked to Peter Thiel’s investment firm, raising further privacy concerns among creators [1].

2026 – The UK House of Lords votes to amend the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, proposing a ban on providing VPNs to minors in an effort to close the loophole exploited after the Online Safety Act’s age‑check rules [3].

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