Discord will begin rolling out new teen safety features globally in early March, placing all new and existing users into a teen-appropriate experience by default unless they verify they are adults. The update introduces stricter content controls, limited access to age-gated spaces, and new communication rules designed to reduce unwanted contact while keeping user privacy intact.

Under the new system, sensitive images and videos will remain blurred unless a user is age-assured as an adult. Only verified adults can access age-restricted channels, servers, and app commands, speak on stage in servers, or change message request settings. Direct messages from people a user may not know will go into a separate inbox by default, and users will see warning prompts for friend requests from unfamiliar accounts.

To unlock adult features, Discord requires age verification through one of several methods. Users can choose facial age estimation using a video selfie that is processed entirely on their device, or submit a government ID to Discord’s verification partners. Identity documents are deleted quickly, usually immediately after age confirmation. Discord is also deploying an age inference model that runs in the background to help determine whether an account belongs to an adult, without always requiring manual verification. Some users may be asked to complete multiple steps if more information is needed.

Once verified, users receive confirmation via Discord’s official account. Age status is private and cannot be seen by others, and users can view or appeal their assigned age group at any time in account settings.

Discord previously tested this “teen-by-default” approach in the UK and Australia. The company says the global rollout builds on those results. Savannah Badalich, Discord’s head of product policy, said the goal is to give teens stronger protections while allowing verified adults more flexibility, adding that teen safety remains central to Discord’s product design.

Public reaction to the change has been mixed. Some users support tighter controls around messaging and content for teens. Others are concerned about privacy and mandatory age checks. Critics note that recent security incidents show Discord has struggled to keep user data safe. A breach of a third-party support provider in late 2025 exposed government ID photos and personal information for tens of thousands of users when attackers accessed age verification and support ticket data. Discord says about 70,000 users had their ID photos exposed and that it cut off the vendor’s access and is working with law enforcement, but some reports suggest the stolen data could be much larger. Users on social forums have expressed frustration that verification photos, said to be temporary, were still stored and then leaked, raising doubts about how secure the process really is.

The update follows similar moves across the industry. Instagram already places teens into stricter content and messaging settings by default. Snapchat keeps teen accounts private and limits how they can be discovered. TikTok has expanded AI-based age detection to flag underage users. Discord is also launching a Teen Council made up of 10 to 12 users aged 13 to 17 to advise on future safety features, policies, and tools.

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Google keeps adding new features to Chrome to keep it productive and up-to-date with ongoing trends. It recently announced the End of Tracking Cookies to safeguard personal data. It even added a Create Theme with an AI feature to enhance customizability. With a bunch of developments, Google Chrome is making the user experience better by prioritizing safety and performance first. Google aims to give people a safer and more efficient place to browse the web. Google brings some useful changes to the Chrome Browser out of which are already rolled out, and the remaining features will be available soon. Let’s dive deeper into the details:

Proactive Safety Check

Chrome’s Safety Check now works in the background without any issues and sends out proactive alerts. Users are notified when their passwords have been stolen when their browser versions are out of date, or when their site rights need their attention. These alerts are easy to access via the three-dot menu, so users can take action quickly to keep suspicious sites at bay.

Moreover, Chrome Browser automatically removes site permission (like access to your location or microphone) for sites that you haven’t visited in a while. Further, the ability to turn off notifications from sites has been streamlined.

Smarter Performance Controls:

Alongside new safety enhancements, Chrome introduces new performance controls. Building upon last year’s introduction of performance controls like Memory Saver mode, Chrome now provides more detailed insights. In Memory Saver mode, users can hover over tabs to see full information about how much memory they are using. Further, users can also specify sites that should always remain active, ensuring a smoother browsing experience. To set up Memory Saver Mode, the user should head to the performance section in settings and toggle Memory Saver on for an optimized performance experience.

Surprisingly, Chrome now lets save work groups to free up memory, declutter and organize the growing experience. The feature is coming in the coming few days and can be toggled by clicking on the “Save Group” feature, making it accessible on other devices.

Excitingly, Google Chrome is bringing support for the new AI model, Gemini, which will power even smarter and more helpful features in the first few months of 2024.

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Since its first incidents of adoption, 5G networking has faced numerous accusations regarding its health safety parameters. Many had claimed that the radiation from the newer and faster bandwidth can potentially harm human beings and even some animals, but that has now been debunked by an International authority on the matter.

According to a report from the Internation Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the 5G network’s millimeter-wave is safe. The German based scientific group assessed the potential health risks of the radio frequency broadcast and issued the statement. This also marks the first time in 20 years, that the advisory has updated its guidelines.

Notably, the organization is also in charge of setting limits on the exposure to radiation and has optimized its policies for 5G as well, setting a new maximum. However, it has been found that the 5G infrastructure in place in certain parts of the US and Europe have output levels far below the newly set maximum limit. In other words, there is no risk at all with the 5G network currently being implemented.

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According to an official from the ICNIRP, the aim of the new guidelines was also to spread awareness and help put unfound beliefs to rest. Meaning, the concerned individual or group can breathe a sigh of relief. Interestingly, during the testing, it was found that the radio frequencies 5G uses in the UK are similar to those that were used in mobile telephones back in 1998.

Multiple testings from the source also confirmed that the radiation levels barely reached 1 percent of the maximum limit. Even when run at the maximum possible power, it still will not cross the 50 percent barrier, although this level will never be reached in day to day usage.

UP NEXT: Samsung offers free Galaxy Sanitizing Service that cleans smartphones using UV light

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Recently, the world has been hit with a new pandemic caused by the new strain of Coronavirus (COVID-19). The infection is highly contagious and can be spread through various surfaces and even air, when around infected people. To tackle this, Samsung is offering a free Galaxy Sanitizing Service that aims to curb the virus by disinfecting your smartphone using UV light.

The new Galaxy Sanitizing Service is currently available in Argentina, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the United States, Ukraine, and Vietnam. So you can avail this offer while it lasts.

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Furthermore, it will soon expand to include other countries like Australia, Austria, Canada, Czechia, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, the Philippines, Romania, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

The move from Samsung arrives as a positive step from public relations stand point and a customer point of view. On one hand, the tech giant receives praise for its initiative while you as customers are more better prepared and less likely to be infected. Nowadays, smartphones have become essential in one’s day to day life. We use it every day, sometimes even for hours. So the extra precautionary measure is nothing but helpful to users.

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