Discord users seek alternatives after ID verification plan

Discord announced it will require all adult users in March to verify their age, like through submitting a video selfie, to remove age-gated restrictions. The company said users who don't verify will be treated as teenagers and have features restricted; unverified accounts won't be allowed into age-restricted channels or able to unblur sensitive content.

The response from users was swift. "Yeah, asking me for a copy of my government id is a deal breaker for me for unnecessary platforms," one Reddit user wrote. "There is no universe in which I will prioritize 'Upload ID' over 'Delete Account,'" another said. Google searches for "discord alternative" have increased by more than 10,0000% compared to the past month.

Chat apps Stoat, Matrix, Mumble, and TeamSpeak have gained traction, and some Steam users urged Valve to expand its chat platform. Security concerns have amplified the backlash.

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