Discord

What is Discord?

Discord is a free app for mobile and PC that lets people chat via text, voice, or video in real time. Combining the internet-calling features of Skype with Reddit-like discussion boards, it's broadened from gamers-only to a social networking site for communities of all types. Users include those with non-gaming interests like anime, TV series, music, and more. It can also be an easy-to-use group-chatting tool for friends.

How old should you be to use Discord?

Discord requires that users be at least 13 years old, although they don't verify users' age upon signup.

Because it's all user-generated, there's the potential for plenty of inappropriate content, like swearing and graphic language and images (though it's entirely possible to belong to a group that forbids these). Discord also has "NSFW" channels and servers that require users to be 18 or older to join (but it's easy to click through the verification).

Is Discord safe?

With the right privacy settings and monitoring, it's easy to use Discord safely. However, there's always a risk when it comes to sites and apps with open chat. The safest way to use Discord is to only accept friend requests and participate in private servers with people you already know.

Although it's rare, predators have targeted kids by using Discord's public servers to send direct messages (DMs). Even though most server moderators (and other users) are often quick to patrol this kind of behavior, kids and adults should know how to recognize and deal with creeps and online predators.

Are there privacy settings for Discord?

Discord has privacy and safety settings that allow users to control who has the ability to send them direct messages or add them as a friend. Its "Safe Direct Messaging" feature can automatically scan and delete direct messages that contain explicit content (although this isn't foolproof, and it doesn't apply outside of DMs).

Discord also lets its users decide whether the app can collect and use their data for customization or analytics purposes. To view and change your privacy settings, select the "User Settings" gear icon by your username, then choose the "Privacy & Safety" menu item.

Are there parental controls for Discord?

Family Center is a Discord feature that allows parents and caregivers to monitor their kids' activity on the app. Parents will now be able to know what servers their kids have joined or participated in, everyone they've messaged, new users they connect with, and more.

The process for accessing and setting up the Family Center supervision may feel daunting for adults (Discord's site has step-by-step guidance) and is likely to garner some resistance from teens. Also, the feature isn't really a parental control setting as much as it is a usage tracker. Yes, parents can see the usernames and server names their kids are interacting with, but they don't have access to the content in the chats or what they're talking about on video or audio calls. Sure, they can look at the user profile to try to see who's behind the username (which is not likely to be the user's real name), but they may not know who that user is or if it's someone their teen actually knows. Also missing is any in-app limitation on the amount of time teens can spend on the app, so this will have to be done within the iOS or Android settings.

The information the Family Center offers is a great way to monitor any changes in behavior or interactions that might seem suspicious. It also gives parents enough insight to ask informed questions and talk to their kids if they feel concerned. It may not be a set-it-and-forget-it protection measure, but it can help facilitate conversations between parents and kids about their digital habits.