YES, YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT DISCORD'S AGE VERIFICATION
But while cancelling Nitro and boycotting Discord CAN be a form of protest, it sadly may not be effective. Why? Bc their hands are tied due to the recent trend in age verification bills worldwide.
All of the bad internet bills. One website.
This site helps send emails to your lawmakers to oppose certain Internet bills in the US, many of which would push age verification if passed HOWEVER, calling your lawmakers on the phone is most effective. If you're not in the US, you can still help by spreading the word. The only way to prevent age verification (On Discord and ALL other social media platforms) is to prevent the bills that are forcing it. Look at the site for more info
Come on freaks let’s move
While there have been age verification laws put in place in other countries, in the US there are currently such laws in only three states, and I believe one is not in fact while there are appeals and lawsuits going on.
Discord is obeying in advance, which is the worst thing to do when dealing with encroaching authoritarianism.
And yes, age verification laws are a form of authoritarianism, using the power of government to quash free expression under a pretext, in this case the pretext of protecting children.
They have already started walking back the impact of their new rule and how it will be implemented, and that is a direct response to how many people have let them know that it's not OK. You have to keep doing that in addition to talking to your lawmakers about why age verification schemes are inherently dangerous without actually providing the claimed benefit, and that if children need to be protected from online content, that's the job of parents.
