Technology

For those interested you can find alternatives to Discord and any other software on AlternativeTo.net But here are some of the standouts I have found:

• Armada https://armada.buzz/: End to End Encrypted Messaging with Discord Import and similar UI, comms for gaming, Voice and Video Calling, and App and Desktop Streaming at full capability. No Phone # or Email required. Can be self hosted and is Open Source. Win/Linux/Mobile versions Ready to go now.
• Fluxer https://fluxer.app/: As the webpage states "Free and open source chat for friends, groups, and communities, with text, voice, video, screen sharing, and self-hosting." and while functional, they have ramped up development to add guides for self hosting and mobile clients that aren't released yet, and have an ambitious roadmap on their blog. You have to use 3rd party bridging apps for importing Discord Servers.
• Stoat (Formally Revolt) https://stoat.chat/: Another Open Source alternative that you can host your own, but at this time servers aren't connected and they want to do it through Federation, or in other words like email servers, so users can browse public servers. They are early days on the desktop and video sharing as well but they users like it so much and development team is so reachable that donations more than pay for the community service and development. Uses an open web app so anywhere you can get a modern browser to work has access.
• VoltChat https://voltagechat.app/: A platform similar to the previously mentioned Armada, but using its own decentralized federated platform.

It shouldn't be up to discord or any other internet entity to verify the age of its users.

Parents. Parents should be monitoring their child's Internet usage.

And how exactly were we expecting it to go? 'Kind of bad'? 🤣

I've been using Fluxer and self hosting Fluxcord to sync my discord server with Fluxer, it's going great.

https://fluxer.app/

The same day I saw Discord's age verifying message, I uninstalled the app and moved to Matrix (to be fair, I was already on Matrix)

Part of me thinks is this just performative nonsense that will always have enormous holes in it, like Prohibition.

Scanning "your" face to prove your age is really just scanning a face.

But I also worry about successive noose tightening.

Shout out to Fluxer.

Still don't think its quite ready but its chugging along and its been fun following the progress. I know they have some big updates inbound. Hopefully people actually give it a shot and flip over to Fluxer.

I'd also add that the "Proton" subscrition equivalent - "Plutonium", is a better value proposition. But I will admit, they still need to clear a few hurdles before even I feel completely comfortable ditching Discord.

But its Open Source and it has a self-hosting option, along with the Quality of Life you expect from Discord in terms of the app layout, screen sharing, etc.

Those people might be unhappy, but most of them will still refuse to move from the platform.

The way age verification is being pushed feels more like wanting to setting up checkpoints on the edge of a city versus just checking Id's before going into a specific establishment.

I just don't see how this isn't a national login system trying to masquerade itself in a poorly fitting "think of the children!" sheep's skin.