It is not just Discord (which I do not use) but virtually all social media here now requires age verification. Australia is the first jurisdiction to impose a minimum age limit of 16 years on social media. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, YouTube, Kick and Reddit, are in the ban with more being added.
Details are at
www.esafety.gov.au/.../social-media-age-restrictions
There are those who see this as an attack on "free speech" with privacy implications, as covered in that "weirdo" video clip, while others see it as a long overdue child safety and protection issue. I am in the latter camp - age restrictions exist for movies, voting in elections, drinking in public bars, driving vehicles, etc, where userID or some sort of visual age verification (including use of the "Mark 1 eye-ball" by an employee at the entrance) is required.
It is how the information is stored and used that does concern me. During the last few days here in Oz there has been a breaking news story about a private contractor responsible for digitizing court transcripts (often containing a great deal of personal, legally protected and security information such as the identity of protected witnesses) had sub contracted the work to overseas operators without obtaining any approval from the courts.
Data breaches in general are now almost routine these days and perhaps part of the price we pay for the conveniences of the "digital age". Age or identity verification may be another price.
My opinions.
