You are able to validate everybody's email from within "Manage -> Users". See top option in the dropdown below.
f79fbf2b-37f3-42c9-afc7-0a5c10c2397e-image.png
i've resolved this by adding this code to my custom sso login plugin (https://community.nodebb.org/topic/3322/jsconnect-sso)
User.setSetting(uid, 'dailyDigestFreq', 'week', null);
User.setSetting(uid, 'notificationSounds', 1, null);
User.setSetting(uid, 'followTopicsOnCreate', 1, null);
User.setSetting(uid, 'followTopicsOnReply', 1, null);
User.setSetting(uid, 'sendChatNotifications', 1, null);