What is discord?

Launched in 2015, Discord is a platform for people with similar interests to share and communicate. It is popular with the gaming community as it offers a way for video game players to communicate with each other and develop a community outside of the games themselves.

However, it has grown into a full social network with over 140 million* monthly active users. It's not just popular with gamers anymore.

How does it work

The Discord platform works by using servers. These are set up with a particular focus or theme as a way for people to come together online to discuss and exchange images, links, and information. These servers offer text channels and voice chat through a microphone on the device you use.

Servers identified with a hashtag (#) are text channels, which are the most popular. Users share messages as well as images and GIFs.

Voice channels have a speaker icon next to them. When users join, they automatically hear ongoing conversations and can join. Additionally, a chat feature like those available in text channels allows users to communicate in multiple ways at once.

Users can be invited to the servers or find online links to access them. The person who sets up the server usually sets some ground rules about who the server is for and what behavior is expected. They may also provide strict guidelines for filtering out explicit content and ensure that their moderator accounts are secure.

What is Discord Nitro?

Discord Nitro is a premium version of the platform. The subscription allows users to customize their profiles, use a different avatar on each server, and use custom emojis anywhere. Users also have access to better quality videos, upload sizes, and more. Nitro prices vary depending on what you want to include and can start at £4.69/month.

What you need to use the platform

      A computer, tablet or smartphone with an internet connection

      An email address to set up an account

Minimum age required

13 years and older, unless local law requires a higher age. However, Discord "updated its age rating to 17+ at Apple's request." Their website states that they want to "help ensure that minors are not exposed to content that is inappropriate for them." But those under 17 can still register and use the platform. The Google Play Store has a "Teen" rating.

Because users can share images in text channels or participate in voice chats, young users are at risk of being exposed to inappropriate content or language.

What are the benefits of Discord?

It can be a really powerful way for teens to discover other people with similar interests and build a community. This could be from playing a video game, but it could also be any other interest, such as playing an instrument, liking a favorite artist, or reading books by a favorite author.

Take the time to communicate with your child to make sure they know who they are chatting with. Always encourage them to have positive and appropriate conversations. It can also provide you with the opportunity to equip them with the tools to deal with any risky situation they may face online.

Please note: You can also use certain privacy and security tools on your mobile device or computer to further limit location-based information and interactions. Take a look at our parental controls for more information.

To be careful

The platform is not suitable for very young children.

Some Discord servers contain adult content and are labeled as 18+ only. Anyone who opens the channel sees a warning message informing them that it may contain graphic content and asking them to confirm that they are over 18 years of age. Servers that contain adult material but are not tagged should be reported.

Most conversations are private and allow live video and location tracking (strictly optional)

Conversations on Discord are private to the group, making it less open and visible than other social networks. Along with this, you can write, talk, listen and watch live videos of other users. There's also a 'Nearby' feature that lets you add friends who have location features turned on on their device who are physically nearby.

Is Discord safe for your child?

It is a beneficial way to connect with others if they are of the right age and have the right support and context from parents and carers. Children of all ages are likely to be at risk on the platform, but children under the age of 13 should use social apps or platforms that are designed specifically for them like YouTube Kids and PopJam.

The platform encourages users to donate to others.

In addition to the Discord Nitro subscription fee, users can also spend money on other users. Users can donate to the channels they follow or join paid servers. Also, users who stream on Discord can monetize their videos on services like YouTube. It is important to discuss money management with your child so that he or she understands the importance of choosing where to best spend your money.

Latest updates

      Disinformation and Hate Speech – As of March 28, 2022, Discord updated its community guidelines to prohibit harmful misinformation. In some cases, they may also consider behavior outside of the platform. They also updated their hate speech policy to include caste, gender identity, age, and serious illness, among others. See more about this update here.

      App Discovery – In November 2021, Discord announced that in 2022, users can explore and discover apps created by the community. This only applies to verified apps and refers to bots that users apply to their servers.

      Stage Channel – Discord has launched Stage Channels, which are available to community servers. They allow for a focused conversation between selected individuals for an audience of listeners. They are useful for interviews, book clubs, karaoke, etc. Nearly a million communities have run Stage since it launched in March 2021.

Previous Post Next Post