What Parents Need to Know About Discord

For most parents, keeping up with the apps your kids use feels like a full-time job. One that’s come up a lot lately is Discord—a popular chat platform that started with gamers but now attracts kids and teens for all kinds of reasons. While it has some good uses, Discord can also be risky, especially for younger kids. Let’s break it down so you can decide if it’s a fit for your family.

What is Discord?

Think of Discord as a mix of Skype and Slack. It lets users chat via text, voice or video in groups called “servers.” These servers can be about anything—games like Fortnite or Roblox, hobbies like coding or music, or just hanging out. Some servers are invite-only, while others are open to anyone. Kids can join servers, create their own or just chat with friends.

Why Kids Love It

A lot of kids get into Discord because their friends use it while playing group games like Fortnite, Minecraft and Roblox. For older kids, it’s a place to chat while playing games or talk about hobbies. Plus, it’s free and works on most devices, which adds to its appeal.

Why Parents Should Be Cautious

Public servers often have adult content, bullying or explicit language. Even servers labeled “18+” only require users to click a button saying they’re old enough to enter. Discord relies on users to report issues, so content often goes unchecked. Kids might also be exposed to harmful conversations or pressured to share personal information. The most serious risks involve exploitation. Some kids have been targeted by bad actors posing as friends. They gain their trust and then pressure them to do bad things on camera. There have even been whole servers dedicated to sharing child sexual abuse material and pressuring people to harm themselves or animals, which is why parents should think twice before letting children use the app.

The biggest issue with Discord is how open it is. Unless you adjust settings, anyone can send your child a friend request or invite them to a server. Public servers often have little moderation, and kids can stumble into inappropriate content or chat with strangers.

Even private servers aren’t always safe. It’s easy for kids to add people they don’t know well. Plus, Discord doesn’t lock safety settings, so kids can change them without parents knowing. Discord is not built for kids and we don’t recommend its use for younger users.

A Kid-Safe Alternative to Discord

We know kids love to chat while they’re gaming, which is why we built Jams in Kinzoo Messenger. This feature is designed to keep gamer friends connected—and best of all—safe. This group chat is kid-friendly and offered in a purpose-built environment for younger users. It doesn’t have the risks of strangers or adult content—but it still gives kids the same group messaging and call capabilities. They can start a Jam call, minimize the screen and take over the Roblox universe together. And, they can use fun reactions and effects while playing.

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How to Make Discord Safer

If you decide to let your child use Discord, here’s how to make it as safe as possible:

• Control Friend Requests
  • Go to User Settings > Privacy & Safety > Who Can Add You as a Friend and choose “Friends of Friends” or “No One.”
• Filter Inappropriate Messages
  • In Privacy & Safety > Direct Messages, enable “Keep Me Safe” to block explicit content in DMs.
• Limit Server DMs
  • Turn off direct messages in server settings so strangers can’t DM your child.
• Disable Public Invites
  • In Privacy & Safety, block invites to public servers to prevent random requests.
• Use Family Center
  • If available, use Discord’s Family Center to monitor servers your child joins and who they chat with, while respecting their privacy.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
  • Go to User Settings > My Account and turn on 2FA for extra security.

Is Discord Right for Your Family?

Discord might work for older teens who understand how to handle strangers and mature content. For younger kids, the risks outweigh the benefits. If you do decide to allow your kid to use it, make sure the privacy settings are locked down and check in regularly about how they’re using the app. At the end of the day, open platforms like Discord require extra vigilance. Being involved and proactive can help your child stay safe while using technology to connect with their friends.

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Image Credit: sharafmaksumov - stock.adobe.com