As an cybersecurity researcher and concerned parent, I often get asked – how do you update your age on Discord? Well, it‘s not straightforward due to Discord‘s age gate policies. But it IS possible with the right approach.
In this detailed guide, I‘ll clarify Discord‘s stance on age restrictions, when you may need to change your birth date, and expert-approved methods to update age information.
An Overview of Discord‘s Age Policies
First, let‘s understand why Discord cares about your age in the first place. Discord allows certain adult or "NSFW" content on its platform, mainly on private servers and channels.
To comply with laws like COPPA, they need to gate this content from underage users. That‘s why all users must provide their age during Discord registration.
According to Discord‘s Terms of Service, you need to be over 13 years old to use their platform. For accessing NSFW content specifically, you must be 18+ years or older.
The problem is – it‘s impossible to truly verify someone‘s age online. So Discord does the next best thing – restricting users from changing their birth date easily.
| 11% | of Discord‘s active user base is under 13 years old as of 2022 estimates. |
| 47% | of American teens aged 13-17 use Discord as per Pew Research Center. |
This deters younger kids from accessing adult content by falsifying their age. It also reduces liability for Discord if COPPA violations occur.
When Would You Need to Change Your Age on Discord?
Given how stringent their policies are, why would anyone need to change their birth date on Discord?
Well, here are some common valid reasons:
- You made an account as a minor earlier, but have now turned 18+.
- You accidentally entered the wrong birth date during signup.
- You want to access age-restricted channels on a private server.
- Your official identity documents showing age have changed.
For such cases, Discord does allow users to update their age through an account review process.
Methods to Change Age on Your Discord Account
There are two main methods to change age on Discord – contact support or make a new account.
Method 1: Contact Discord Support
The only way to edit your existing Discord account‘s age is to contact their customer support team. Here is a step-by-step process:
Step 1: Submit an Account Review Request
Visit Discord‘s support page and select the "Appeals" followed by "Age Update" category.
Step 2: Fill in Your Account Details
On the request form, Discord will ask for:
- Your Discord tag (username + discriminator)
- The email address associated with your Discord account
- A brief explanation for needing an age update
Provide accurate information to all questions on the form. If you make mistakes, your appeal can get rejected.
Step 3: Upload an Identity Document
To have your age changed, Discord requires verification through a legal document like:
- Passport
- National ID card
- Driving license
- Government-issued photo ID
The document must clearly display your personal details along with your date of birth. Make sure to censor any sensitive information like ID numbers if submitting IDs.
Double check that the images you upload are clear and legible. Poor quality submissions can lead to delays or rejections during review.
Step 4: Wait for Discord‘s Response
Once you submit your age change request with documents, Discord will review your case. This can take anywhere between 2 days to a week.
If they need any other verification, their team will contact you via email. Otherwise, they will simply update your birth date per your submitted documents.
Method 2: Create a Brand New Discord Account
Instead of updating your existing profile, you can simply make a new Discord account with your current age.
However, this means you lose your old Discord identity including server access and chat history.
Here is the process to sign up for a new account:
Step 1: Visit Discord‘s Homepage
Go to discord.com and click on the "Register" button.
Step 2: Enter Your Details
On the signup form, provide your:
- Email address (use a new one if keeping your old account)
- Pick a username
- Enter your actual date of birth
- Create a password
This will register you for a brand new Discord account with your current age. Rejoin any public servers and contact friends to regain access.
Pros and Cons of Making a New Account
While simple, creating new account has downsides over updating existing profile:
| Pros | Cons |
| – Quick and easy process | – Lose access to current servers |
| – Retain chat history by exporting data | – Start over reputation and roles |
| – Get a cleaner slate | – Tedious to re-add friends |
Weigh these factors carefully before making your choice.
Expert Tips to Avoid Issues
Through my research on Discord‘s systems, I wanted to share some useful tips:
Don‘t Fake Your Age
While technically possible to enter a false age, this directly violates Discord‘s terms and conditions.
If caught, they will immediately terminate your account. Repeated offenses can even get you banned from their platform.
Prevent Underage Usage
I strongly advise parents to control their under 13 kids‘ access to Discord itself. Use parental control tools that block the website and app.
For older teens, directly supervise their activity instead of relying on Discord‘s age gates.
Toggle Off NSFW Content
You can disable adult or explicit content on specific Discord servers. Server moderators control these settings, not individual users.
So you can request admins to restrict NSFW content on private servers you use, regardless of your age.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let‘s tackle some common FAQs around the age change process:
Why does my Discord say "Unauthorized" after changing age?
This happens because certain servers/channels now become unlocked thanks to meeting the minimum age criteria. To regain access, simply rejoin them.
Can someone under 13 use Discord safely?
Ideally no one under 13 should use Discord due to COPPA compliance issues. Even with adult supervision, inappropriate content exposure risks remain.
What if Discord rejects my age change request?
First, verify you have submitted clear and valid ID proof. If it meets requirements and the rejection seems unfair, persist by opening a support ticket. Provide additional documents if needed.
Is the new Discord account method safer?
Creating a new account is faster but has privacy risks too. You lose access control over your older data. Starting fresh does mean less past conversations and metadata existing. Evaluate based on personal context.
The Final Verdict
I hope this detailed guide has helped demystify Discord‘s age policies and how to update your information.
While the platform restricts open edits to birth dates, legitimate change appeals do get approved. As a cybersecurity researcher and parent, I advise being transparent in your requests to avoid issues.
For any other questions related to managing your Discord account or data, feel free to reach out to me directly!