Is Discord safe?

At its core, Discord is a platform for people to chat with their friends. Like a modern-day AOL chat room without the dial-up internet. If your child is a gamer, they probably use Discord. 

Any social media platform can feel intimidating if you’re not familiar with it. Let’s talk about what Discord is used for and how you can keep your child safe while they use it.

Put simply, Discord can be used to communicate via voice chat, video chat, or text.

People can gather in servers, or dedicated online spaces, and share content. Each server can have up to 500 channels (or chat rooms). In these channels, you can communicate via text, voice, or video. You can share your screen so your friends can see what video game you’re playing, or turn on your webcam and chat Skype-style. 

The vast majority of servers are private, meaning you can’t participate in the server or its channels without an invite from someone else. However, there are public servers that revolve around common interests. You can find servers on video games, crocheting, Britney Spears, you name it. If it’s an interest, there’s probably a Discord server for it. These servers are open to anyone, meaning they can get crowded very quickly. The AI program Midjourney currently boasts the largest Discord server at over 15 million members.

Discord was initially created so gamers could communicate during games without resorting to the in-game chat application. Now, it's no longer an island for gamers. Come the COVID-19 pandemic, it boomed in popularity. In 2019, it had 56 million monthly users. Then in September 2021, it jumped to over 150 million monthly users. 

Discord is generally a safe platform. They keep your data safe using HTTPS, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure encryption, meaning any text or video you send is secure and safe from eavesdroppers. Discord also uses 2FA, or two-factor authentication to prevent others from accessing your account. 

As a default, Discord has strong password requirements so your account can remain safe and secure. If you’re concerned about the content your child interacts with on Discord, public server moderators are there to keep the community safe and enjoyable for all.

Discord is a consistently safe platform. Like any social media platform though, it has its downfalls. 

Discord constantly has to confront extremist and conspiracy content. You may also encounter sexist and racist language and NSFW (Not Safe for Work) content. Even though Discord’s rules prohibit such content, some inevitably slip through the cracks.

It's important to watch the servers your child is in. If they’re in a large, public Discord server, they open themselves up to chatting with strangers. Chatting with people they don’t know can help them make new friends and bolster their social skills, but it can also open them up to danger. 

Discord reps its fair share of scams and security threats. They’re a common platform for gamers, so malware is often disguised as gaming-related tools or cheats. Keep an eye out for the following threats:

• WASP Stealer: Malware that steals your passwords, credit card information, and other sensitive files. 
• SpideyBot: Malware that modifies the Discord client so it can steal your IP address, and personal information like email addresses and phone numbers. 
• Javascript library: Malware disguised as the file for FallGuys, a video game of the same name. Used to steal browsing history and Discord activity. 

So, what’s Discord doing to make its platform safer? Over the last 12 months, they’ve prioritised their security and safety protocols. The aim is to proactively detect and remove abusive content, effectively block users, and enforce server rules to restrict explicit content.

Discord has partnered with ConnectSafely, a nonprofit dedicated to internet safety, to create a parent’s guide to Discord. The guide provides a list of ways your kids can remain safe while they use Discord, as well as recommended safety settings for teens. 

Discord also has a ‘Family Centre’ where parents can monitor their kids’ activity. To start, create an account of your own and link it with your child’s. Once you do, you’ll be able to see who your child is messaging, a list of their new friends, and what servers they’ve joined. The child or teen must accept your request and they can disconnect at any time, so you’ll need to discuss if it’ll be beneficial and come to a mutual agreement. 

Platforms like Bark and Qustodio can also help your child use Discord safely by allowing you to:

• Monitor how long they spend on Discord
• Set time limits or prevent it from being used
• Receive an alert when they use Discord for the first time

• Choose a secure, strong password.
• Enable two-factor authentication.
• Watch for phishing scams. They most often appear in private messages and come from someone your child probably doesn't know in person. They might request money, personal information, or send a link to an unsafe website.
• Avoid large public servers as they can make your child a target for scams and phishing attempts.
• Use a VPN to hide your child’s IP address. 
• Remind them to never click on suspicious links.
• Keep their personal information under lock and key, and don’t share personal or account information, even if your child knows the person. 

• Choose a username that doesn't reveal any personal information (like where they live or their age).
• Only accept messages from people your child knows and trusts in real life
• Discuss appropriate topics for group chat conversations and encourage them to speak up if someone is making them uncomfortable.
• Don’t video chat with strangers or people your child doesn’t trust. 
• Discuss the risks of joining public servers and encourage them to only join private servers.
• Remove servers your child no longer uses or trusts.
• Keep an eye on your child’s activity and encourage them to report instances of cyberbullying.
• Monitor server activity and set up content filtering tools to prevent exposure to inappropriate content.
• Restrict their settings so they can only chat with their friends. 
• Warn your child about the dangers of stranger danger, but also ensure they know what to do if they encounter an online predator (like contact a moderator, block the user, and tell a trusted adult). 
• Educate them on what can happen when you spend too much time online. Technology addiction can become a problem, so encourage your child to take regular breaks and set time limits to promote healthy offline-online balance.
• Disable the ability to join new servers or access certain features, or set it so they need your approval before joining a new server. 
• Consider using parental control software or apps to monitor activity and block inappropriate content.

If you can learn how to keep your child safe, Discord is generally safe to use. However, it's important to be aware of the potential risks, like large public servers and NSFW content, and take appropriate measures to enhance their safety.