Discord’s Terms of Service state that users must be 13 years or older to use their service in the United States. This age restriction is in line with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which sets guidelines for the online collection of personal information from children under 13.
However, it is widely known that there are children under the age of 13 who use Discord, even though they technically do not meet the minimum age requirement. This could be due to various reasons, such as lying about their age during the account creation process or simply not being aware of the age restriction.
To address this issue, Discord has announced that they are developing a “gate” that will prompt users to self-report their date of birth upon creating an account. This gate will serve as a reminder of the age requirement and encourage users to provide accurate information. It is a step towards ensuring compliance with COPPA and maintaining a safer online environment for young users.
It is important to note that while Discord is taking measures to enforce the age restriction, it is ultimately up to the users themselves to provide truthful information about their age. Discord cannot guarantee that every user will accurately report their age, but they are making efforts to promote responsible use of their platform.
In my own experience, I have come across instances where younger children have used Discord despite not meeting the age requirement. This highlights the need for platforms like Discord to be vigilant in enforcing age restrictions and implementing measures to verify user ages. It is a challenging task, as users can easily falsify their age or create accounts with parental consent.
Discord’s Terms of Service clearly state that users must be 13 years or older to use their service in the U.S. However, there are instances where younger children use the platform. Discord is working on a self-reporting gate during the account creation process to encourage users to provide accurate information about their age. While this is a positive step, it is important for parents and guardians to be aware of their child’s online activities and ensure they are using platforms appropriate for their age.