Users are moving to TeamSpeak after backlash over Discord’s global rollout of stricter age verification checks, according to PC Gamer. The shift has strained TeamSpeak’s infrastructure, with the company saying its hosting capacity has reached limits in several regions, including the US.

PC Gamer reported that TeamSpeak’s appeal lies in its simple onboarding process. Users can quickly create an account, join or start group chats, or enter large game-based community voice servers. Unlike Discord’s new system, TeamSpeak does not prompt users to complete facial age verification checks.

No Age Gates, For Now

During testing cited in the report, users were able to enter 18-plus group chats without encountering age restrictions. However, there is no assurance that TeamSpeak will avoid implementing similar measures in the future.

In the UK, the Online Safety Act requires platforms to carry out age verification. Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently said that no social media platform should receive a free pass when it comes to protecting children, signaling regulatory pressure that could extend to alternative platforms.

Paid Private Calls

While TeamSpeak allows access to public voice servers, users who prefer private spaces must rent their own ten-person community voice server for a subscription fee. This requires providing payment details, which effectively serves as a form of age assurance.

For users seeking to minimize the amount of personal information shared with chat platforms, the report notes that other options may offer stronger privacy protections.

The global memory shortage linked to rising AI demand could force a large number of consumer electronics companies out of business by the end of 2026, according to comments attributed to Pua Khein-Seng, CEO of Phison.

In a summary posted on X by user 駿HaYaO, Pua reportedly said that many system vendors may go bankrupt or exit product lines due to limited memory supply. The original interview was conducted in Chinese and is available on YouTube without English subtitles, so the remarks cannot be independently verified verbatim.

《獨家專訪 #群聯 #Phison 執行長潘健成》
核心結論
1. 記憶體供需嚴重失衡將持續到2030年
AI為剛需，DRAM與NAND Flash極度缺貨。原廠要求預付3年貨款（電子業史無前例），賣方市場空前強勢。原廠內部預估缺到2030年，甚至10年不見盡頭。

2. 消費電子將大量死亡… https://t.co/FvVnb8tT2I

— 駿HaYaO (@QQ_Timmy) February 14, 2026

Production Cuts Expected

According to the translated summary, Pua warned that consumer electronics will experience widespread failures from late this year through 2026. He reportedly said mobile phone production could decline by 200 to 250 million units, while PC and television output would also fall significantly.

The shortage has already driven sharp increases in memory prices, complicating the production of various computing-related devices.

NVIDIA’s Rubin GPUs to Blame

Pua also reportedly addressed the impact of Nvidia’s next-generation Rubin AI GPUs. If tens of millions of Vera Rubin units ship, each requiring more than 20TB of SSD storage, that would consume roughly 20 percent of last year’s global NAND production capacity, excluding additional data storage demand, according to the summary.

Long-Term Shortage Looms

The summary further claims that memory manufacturers are now requesting three years of prepayment, a practice described as unprecedented in the electronics sector. Manufacturers are also said to estimate that the shortage could last until 2030 or potentially another decade.

Major memory producers, including Samsung, Micron, SK Hynix, Kioxia, and Yangtze Memory, have announced investments in new capacity. However, bringing new facilities online typically requires at least two years from announcement to production, and equipment remains in high demand.

China’s additional output is expected to account for only 3 to 5 percent of global capacity in its early stages, which would not close a projected 10 to 20 percent supply gap. Domestic demand within China is also described as strong, limiting the likelihood of surplus exports.

Sustainability Debate

The X user suggested that extended product lifespans and increased repairs could be a potential upside of constrained supply. However, overall electronics production continues to grow, with output shifting toward energy-intensive AI servers and GPUs rather than consumer hardware.

Snapchat announced it will roll out creator subscriptions, introducing a feature similar to offerings already available on Instagram, Facebook, and OnlyFans.

Under the new system, subscribers will gain access to exclusive content shared through Snaps and Stories. They will also receive priority replies from creators and view Stories without ads.

Subscription Pricing and Access

Creators will be able to set their own monthly subscription prices. These prices can be aligned with Snapchat’s recommended pricing tiers.

The feature will first become available to select US-based creators starting February 23. In the US, iOS users will be able to subscribe to participating creators’ accounts.

Snapchat said it plans to expand the subscription option to Canada, France, and the UK in the coming weeks.