Discord will soon require users worldwide to verify their age with a face scan or ID to access adult content, while a new study warns of the dangers of AI chatbots providing medical advice, and a watchdog reports worsening corruption in democracies globally, according to multiple reports. These developments come as social media giants face scrutiny over their impact on mental health and food fraud continues to plague the global economy.
Discord, the online chat service with over 200 million monthly users, will roll out age verification measures globally from early March, according to BBC Technology. Users will need to verify their age with a face scan or by uploading a form of ID to access adult content. The company stated that these safety measures are designed to protect people by placing everyone into a teen-appropriate experience "by default." This follows existing age verification practices in the UK and Australia, which comply with online safety laws.
Meanwhile, a study from the University of Oxford, also reported by BBC Technology, found that AI chatbots give inaccurate and inconsistent medical advice, posing potential risks to users. Researchers found that people using AI for healthcare advice received a mix of good and bad responses, making it difficult to determine what advice to trust. Dr. Rebecca Payne, the lead medical practitioner on the study, said it could be "dangerous" for people to ask chatbots about their symptoms. A Mental Health UK poll from November 2025 revealed that more than one in three UK residents now use AI to support their mental health or wellbeing.
In other news, a landmark trial began in California, as reported by BBC Business, examining the mental health effects of Instagram and YouTube. Lawyers for the plaintiff, identified as "K.G.M.," argued that the social media companies created "addiction machines" that led to mental health issues. Mark Lanier, the plaintiff's lawyer, stated, "These companies built machines designed to addict the brains of children, and they did it on purpose." Lawyers for Meta and YouTube countered that K.G.M.'s addiction stemmed from other issues.
Additionally, food fraud continues to be a persistent problem, as highlighted by BBC Technology. Food crime, which includes practices like diluting or substituting ingredients, costs the global economy an estimated $81 billion (110 billion) a year. Honey is a common target for fraudsters, with plant-based syrup often used as a cheaper substitute.
Finally, Transparency International (TI) warned of worsening corruption in democracies worldwide in its latest report, as reported by Al Jazeera. The United States' score has slipped to its lowest, raising concerns about developments in the US and the impact of its funding cuts around the world.
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