Discord’s decision to introduce digital ID and face scanning requirements for some servers is prompting many users to look for alternative communication tools, and Teamspeak is emerging as a primary beneficiary. Teamspeak has seen a significant increase in new users, with hosting capacity in the United States reportedly maxed out and all servers operating at full capacity. To keep pace with demand, the company is expanding infrastructure by adding new Frankfurt-3 and Toronto-1 instances, while only a few regions such as Amsterdam-3, along with the newly announced Frankfurt-3 and Toronto-1, still have available capacity.
Discord’s new age verification requirements are scheduled to take effect in early March 2026 and will introduce a more controlled environment for younger users. These settings will automatically place all existing and new Discord accounts into a default mode that filters out content deemed unsuitable for minors in order to create a “teen-appropriate experience.” Users who want to access age-restricted content will need to complete an age verification flow that requires either uploading a scan of a government-issued ID or using facial recognition technology to confirm their age, bringing more stringent checks to the platform.
Not every Discord user will be forced through the full verification process, as the company is also deploying an age inference model to classify accounts. The age inference model will analyze user behavior, including the types of games played, the amount of time spent on Discord, and the times users are active, to determine whether someone is likely to be an adult. Discord positions the system as a way to provide strong protections for teens while giving verified adults more flexibility over the content they can access. As some users look for services that do not restrict their online experience or request sensitive personal data, migrations are expected to continue, reinforcing Teamspeak’s role as the “old reliable” alternative favored by parts of the community.
