Discord started as a way for gamers to communicate. Today, it is a huge social network over 100 million users. These users connect within special interest groups in countless subjects including art, music, business, education, sports. Gaming, however, is by far the primary focus.
Unlike other social media platforms, Discord is rarely mentioned in mainstream media. Nonetheless, it is worth knowing more about it and any potential safety issues.
Company Origins
Discord’s founders are fellow gamers, Jason Citron and Stan Vishnevskiy. They forged a great connection while playing and realized the tools of the time made it difficult to chat while gaming. They started Discord in 2015 to fill this gap. The company is based in San Francisco, California.
Discord’s Purpose
Discord allows users to create “servers” which are basically communities for people to connect with others with the same interests. Users collaborate in real-time and share their passions. The main focus of this app is to consume video content and connect and communicate with others.
How Does It Work?
Users can either download and install a program on their PC or use a mobile app. They can join via an invitation or create their own server and then invite others through a link.
Servers are divided by topics and some have membership limits, set by the server owner. The owner also sets the rules for the server and may ban users if they don’t comply. The platform offers text, image, video, and audio options.
Images & Video
Discord is very versatile and allows users to share images, videos, and GIFs. These can be sent through texts or direct messages. Users can also screen share and video chat on the desktop or a mobile device.
Free vs. Paid Version
Discord is a free app however a paid subscription version called ‘Nitro’ is available.
Friends/Follow Lists
It is very easy to contact others through the servers. Once a user joins, they can communicate by text and video whenever they enter the room or call a person on their server if the user accepted the person as a friend. Remember as with virtually online interaction programs there is no identity verification.
Privacy Settings
Users can restrict who can send them direct messages and who they want to become a friend. The system can also scan and delete inappropriate messages through the “Safe Direct Messaging” feature, but no automated system is 100 percent effective. Users can also choose whether they will allow data collection for analytics purposes.
Age Requirement
The minimum age for users in 13 years, but the app does not require verification at sign up. When downloading the app from the relevant store the age will display 12+. This does not indicate that the age requirement is 12 or above, the age requirement remains at 13 years as listed in the terms and conditions. The company cannot legally set the age requirement lower.
Reporting Complaints
Discord offers an online ticket system for reporting complaints. They ask the user to complete a short form along with the link to the offensive message and supporting images, if applicable.
Considerations for Parents & Caregivers
Discord is like any other social media platform – it must be handled properly. One concern for parents and caregivers is a lack of parental controls. It is not possible to password protect privacy settings or restrict content.
The lack of age verification at signup could lead to access into Not Safe for Work (NSFW) servers that normally require users be 18, or older. As well, younger users may be exposed to inappropriate content as the platform relies on user-generated interactions.
A primary focus of Discord is to connect people whereby they can interact and communicate. Topics relating to ‘Hate Speech’ and ‘Racism’ have been known to occur in Discord. It must be noted though that the program actively seeks out and deletes such groups.
Nonetheless, it is possible for users to interact safely. Participating in servers with known friends and avoiding direct messages from strangers is still the best way to stay safe.
What to Remember as a Parent/Caregiver
- Use the information in this article to make an informed decision whether Discord should be used in your family. Remember, you always have the right to say, “No” without feeling guilt.
- No application, including Discord, is essential to your child’s development (despite what they might try to tell you).
- If your child is using this program:
- Set limits for the amount of time they can spend on the platform each day. Time spent on this platform has been the biggest concern highlighted to us by parents.
- Establish rules regarding how your child can interact with others via chat and video calls.
- Create rules governing inappropriate language while on Discord
- Ask questions and investigate whenever you feel things aren’t going according to plan
Read what other parents are saying at Common Sense Media
