Although Discord has not been classified as an Age-Restricted Social Media Platform under Australia’s Social Media Minimum Age Act, we introduced enhanced safety features for our Australian users starting December 9th, 2025.
Note: These defaults include automatic content filtering to reduce the likelihood that teens encounter certain types of potentially harmful content, as well as different social settings. Australian users who wish to access content flagged by our filters or customize those settings can do so only after confirming that they are 18 or older through our privacy-forward age assurance experience.
To check out additional Safety Resources for Australian Users go here.
What this article covers:
A set of safety protections apply automatically for all users until they confirm they’re an adult. This article explains what those protections are, what they affect, and what can be changed.
In Australia, we don't use the age estimation model to automatically determine a users’ age group, so you'll be asked to confirm your age group if you want access to age-restricted content, spaces or settings. You can use our age assurance options to confirm your age group directly at User Settings > Account Status. Find more detailed instructions here.
What Stays the Same
The core Discord experience, messaging friends, joining voice calls or servers that are not age-restricted, works the same. Users with these additional safety protections applied can still:
- Message friends and server members you're already connected with
- Join and participate in servers that aren't age-restricted
- Make voice and video calls
- Participate in gaming, communities, study servers, and everything Discord is built for
What are the Additional Safety Protections
Users in the teen age group have a slightly different experience across three areas: what content you can see and can’t see, who can reach you, and what others can see about you. Some of these can only be changed by confirming you're an adult. Others can be adjusted at any time.
Content: What You Can and Can’t See
Sensitive content that we flag is filtered automatically. Images and videos flagged by Discord's content filters are blurred or blocked depending on where they appear:
- Direct messages from friends: blurred
- Direct messages from strangers: blocked
- Server channel messages: blurred
Sensitive Content Filters settings screen, showing Direct Messages and server channel media set to Blur or Block
Viewing blurred content, or changing these settings to "Show," requires confirming you're an adult.
Age-restricted servers and channels are not accessible. Servers and channels marked as age-restricted (18+) are not accessible. Accessing them requires confirming you're an adult.
Age-restricted commands are off. App commands flagged as age-restricted are disabled. Enabling them requires confirming you're an adult.
For iOS only: The setting “Allow access to age-restricted servers on iOS” is off. This is a separate, additional step adults must take on iOS to reach age-restricted servers described above. It does not apply to teen accounts, which remain blocked regardless of this setting, and it does not apply on Android. Turning it on requires confirming you're an adult.
Content Filters settings, showing "Allow access to age-restricted commands from apps in DMs" and "Allow access to age-restricted servers on iOS" toggles, both off
Social: Who Can Reach You
Message requests are on. All direct messages from people you're not friends with are sent to a separate message requests inbox, so you can review them before they appear in your main DM list. Turning this off requires confirming you're an adult.
DM spam filters are set to “filter all”. Spam filtering is applied to all incoming DMs. This can be adjusted at any time.
Friend request alerts are on. You will be alerted before accepting a friend request from an unfamiliar user. Unfamiliar users are those you do not have any mutual friends or shared small servers (< 200 members) with. These alerts can help you make more informed decisions about new connections. These alerts cannot be turned off at this time whether you’re in the adult or teen age group.
Profile & Activity: What Others Can See
Activity sharing is limited. Your activity will only be visible to your friends, not members of shared servers. This can be adjusted at any time.
Profile visibility is limited. Your full profile details will only be visible to your friends, not shared servers. This can be adjusted at any time.
Speaking in Stage channels is not available. Speaking in a Stage channel requires you to confirm you’re an adult, as it can broadcast your voice to large audiences.You can still listen to any Stage channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I'm an adult and I've been placed in the teen age group. What do I do?
A: Head to User Settings > Account Status, pick whichever method you're most comfortable with, and you can confirm your age group, usually in a few minutes. Find more detailed instructions here.
Q: Can I turn these protections off?
A: Some settings can only be changed after confirming you're an adult. Others, like activity sharing and profile visibility, can be adjusted at any time. See the sections above for details on which protections can be turned off.
Q: Can other people see what age group I’m in?
A: Your age group isn't shown on your profile or visible to other members in a server.
Q: Do these protections apply everywhere globally?
A: Teen safety protections may vary slightly depending on where you live, as some regions have specific requirements under local regulation. For region-specific information, see our directory here.
Q: Will these protections change over time?
A: We continue to adjust our approach as regulations evolve. We'll communicate any changes that affect your experience.
Q: I'm a parent, can I manage my teen's settings?
A: Teen safety protections are applied when we believe a user is a teen and most can't be changed by anyone other than your teen confirming they're an adult. A few settings, like Sensitive Content Filters and Message Requests, can be managed by you if you're connected through Family Center, though you'll need to be in the adult age group yourself to update Message Requests. For the full list of what you can manage and how to connect, read our help center article on Family Center.