1. What’s Changing at Discord?
Discord is rolling out a global age‑verification system that will take effect next month. The move is part of a broader effort to create a “teen‑appropriate experience” by default for all users.
Key points:
| Feature | What It Means | Who’s Affected |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Teen‑Default | Every account starts in a teen‑appropriate mode. | All users |
| Restricted Settings | Only adults who verify themselves can change certain settings or unlock age‑restricted content. | Users who need those features |
| Age‑Inference Model | Discord uses account tenure, device data, activity patterns, and community‑wide high‑level signals to guess a user’s age. | All users (no private messages or content used) |
| Verification Methods | Users must either pass a facial age estimation or submit a government ID to one of Discord’s vendor partners. Multiple methods may be requested if needed. | Users who need to unlock adult‑only features |
| Other Changes | Messages from strangers are routed to a separate inbox by default, and only verified adults can change that setting or speak onstage in servers. | All users |
These changes aim to keep younger members protected while still giving adults full access to Discord’s features.
techcrunch.com
2. Why Build Your Own “Discord” Server?
While Discord’s new rules tighten privacy and content controls, many communities and developers want a self‑hosted, customizable alternative. VoceChat is an open‑source, Discord‑compatible platform that lets you run your own server with Docker. You get full control over data, privacy settings, and the ability to tweak features to your exact needs.
3. Step-by-Step Guide
docker run -d --restart=always \
-p 3000:3000 \
--name vocechat-server \
privoce/vocechat-server:latestAfter starting the server, visit http://localhost:3000/ to use the app.
I’m currently running VoceChat on a VPS that already hosts my Ollama/OpenWeb‑UI instance, and it’s given me the peace of mind that nothing on the server is being watched or censored. I’ve mainly used Discord to chat with friends, and honestly the experience hasn’t changed much—VoceChat offers native apps for Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and even Linux. It’s a solid alternative, and I’m eager to see more communities set up their own servers and join the conversation.