Discord is a popular messaging and voice chat platform that is widely used by gamers and other online communities. While it can be a useful tool for communication and connecting with others, is Discord safe for kids? There are some inherent risks that parents and guardians should be aware of when it comes to their kids and Discord safety.
Is Discord for kids?
Discord is a versatile messaging app that allows users to communicate with each other in a variety of ways, making it a popular choice for online communities and gaming groups. But is Discord for kids? Discord was primarily designed for gamers but has since expanded to other communities as well. It allows users to create and join ‘servers’ where they can chat with other members via text, voice, and video. Discord servers are essentially online communities centered around specific topics or interests and can be made public or private.
Is Discord for teens?
There are some Discord servers that are designed specifically for kids with age-appropriate content and moderation, including educational, gaming, and social servers. Additionally, there are Discord servers for teens, which typically provide a space for teens to socialize, share interests, and connect with others in their age group.
Teens Discord servers may focus on specific teen-related topics or hobbies, while others may be more general and open to discussing a wide range of topics. Additionally, many teen Discord servers have rules and guidelines in place to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all members.
However, parents and guardians should be aware that Discord servers are not inherently safe for kids and teens and they should understand the Discord dangers. While the platform offers many tools to keep users safe, including moderation and content-filtering features, there is still the risk of encountering inappropriate content or interacting with strangers who may not have good intentions.
According to the NSPCC, young users have contacted Childline to support cyberbullying and online harassment that they have experienced using this app, making its use a worry for parents. With this knowledge in hand, parents and guardians can draw their own conclusions on the answer to the question: “Is Discord safe for kids?”
Discord’s minimum age recommendation on their site is 13+, but on the App store, its age rating is 17+ and on the Google Play Store it has a “Teen” rating. However, under-17s can still register and use the platform.
How does Discord work?
When you sign up for Discord, you need to instigate a username, and you can then create a server that you can invite your friends to. You can join existing servers by using an invite link or by searching for servers based on your interests.
Within a server, a user can chat with other members using text-based channels, or join voice channels to talk with them using a microphone. Users can also share images, videos, and other files within the server.
Discord also includes several features to make communication easier, such as the ability to tag specific users or groups of users, react to messages with emojis, and send direct messages to other users. Additionally, Discord allows users to integrate third-party apps and bots, which can be used to perform a variety of tasks such as playing music or moderating chat.
Discord safety and Discord security codes
How safe is Discord from a cybersecurity perspective? Discord offers a two-factor authentication (2FA) security code as an additional layer of security that helps to protect your account from unauthorized access. Anyone who uses Discord can choose to enable the security code feature and use 2FA to better secure their account. It is especially recommended for users who have sensitive information on their accounts and may want to take extra precautions to prevent hacking or unauthorized access.
Discord bot security is another component users should be aware of. Security bot Discord technologies function as applications designed to protect and secure a Discord server. These bots are equipped with features such as anti-spam, anti-raid, anti-phishing, anti-malware, and anti-bot protection, which help to prevent malicious attacks and ensure the safety of the server and its members. They also provide tools for managing server permissions, monitoring user activity, and enforcing rules and regulations. Discord security bots are essential for maintaining a secure and safe community on the platform.
Discord dangers
Despite the cybersecurity features that are in place, we still need to know more about the dangers of Discord, Discord trust and safety issues, and what risks should users be aware of.
Inappropriate content
One risk of using Discord for kids is the potential for exposure to inappropriate content. While Discord has policies in place to prevent the sharing of explicit or harmful content, it is still possible for users to encounter such material. For example, some users may create channels or servers dedicated to sharing inappropriate images or videos. Additionally, users can share links to external websites that may contain inappropriate content.
Cyberbullying
Like any online platform, Discord is not immune to cyberbullying. Bullying behavior can occur, such as spreading rumors or gossip, sending threatening messages, or excluding others from channels or servers. This can have a serious impact on the mental health and well-being of young users.
Online predators
Another risk is the potential for exposure to online predators. While Discord has policies in place to prevent users from sharing personal information, it is still possible for young users to be targeted by online predators. Predators may pose as other kids or adults in order to gain the trust of their targets and ultimately exploit them in some way.
Discord trust and safety measures
What can parents and guardians do to help protect their kids while they are using Discord?
Here are a few tips:
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Monitor your child's activity on Discord: While it's important to give kids some privacy, it's also important to know what they are doing on the platform. You can ask them to show you what they are doing or join the server yourself to see what's happening.
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Set screen time limits: It's important to set limits on how much time kids spend on Discord (and other screen-based activities) in order to ensure they are not spending too much time online.
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Use the “Report” feature: Discord has a "Report" feature that allows users to report channels or servers that violate the platform's terms of service. Encourage your child to use this feature if they encounter something that makes them feel uncomfortable, such as inappropriate content or behavior.
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Oversharing personal information: Remind your child not to share personal information, such as their full name, address, phone number, or other identifying information on Discord (or any other online platform).
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Communication is key: It's important to have ongoing conversations with your child about online safety. Encourage them to come to you if they encounter something that makes them feel uncomfortable or if they are being bullied or harassed online.
By taking these steps, you can help protect your child while they are using Discord, or any other popular social media apps.
Additionally, utilizing a parental control app like FamilyKeeper, with in-built screen time limiting features and offensive keyword notifications, can help you monitor your child’s online activity.
If you are interested in learning more about the dangers of particular apps, and the benefits of using a parental control app, you can read more here.
For more information on different features of the FamilyKeeper app, including blocking unknown contacts, geolocation tools, and alerts when inappropriate language is detected, visit us at https://familykeeper.reasonlabs.com/ or download the app from Google Play Store or the App Store.
