Discord is Requiring Users to Change Usernames

Discord will require users to change usernames to a unique format, following an @ symbol, to improve user accessibility. Some criticism has arisen.

Discord is Requiring Users to Change Usernames

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Discord, an online chat service with 150 million monthly active users worldwide, has announced that all users will be required to change their usernames over the coming weeks. Previously, users were identified by a name preceding a hash and four numbers. The new system will require people to create a unique username following an @ symbol, bringing it in line with Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms.

Why the Change?

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According to a Discord representative, the change was made after hearing from many users about the challenges associated with connecting with friends on the platform. The new system is designed to make Discord more accessible and user-friendly for both new and existing users. The company values user feedback and is committed to improving the overall Discord experience.

Step Backward?

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Despite the company's intentions, the change has been criticized online. Some users have called it a huge step backward, while others have compared it to a telephone network changing its customers' phone numbers to their full names. Popular illustrator Aura has warned that users run the risk of being impersonated if they fail to secure their username.

How Will the Change Work?

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The order in which people will be able to pick their new usernames will be determined by the age of their accounts - the oldest first. The new usernames must be alphanumeric and can include underscores and full stops but, unlike Twitter, no capital letters.

What is Discord?

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Launched in 2015, Discord is widely used by people playing games, but also to arrange group activities, because users can split conversations into easily searchable channels. Users can join groups - or servers - with no limit on members. Massively popular games such as Genshin Impact and Valorant each have more than a million users in their public Discord servers. However, the most popular public server is not about gaming at all - the server for Midjourney, an artificial intelligence that can generate images from text, has 15 million members.

Sensitive Information

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Discord has also been in the news for allegedly leaking sensitive information about US allies and the war in Ukraine. Users need to be cautious about sharing sensitive information on any online platform.