DISCORD PARENT’S GUIDE: How to Keep Your Kids Safe
Updated: Jun 19, 2023
If your kids are starting to play computer games, it is possible that soon you’re going to hear about Discord. Here is some important information about Discord for you to know what kids are doing to play online.
Discord is a chat app. It’s quite popular within the gaming community, but it has gained popularity within other niches as well since many companies and schools have adopted the program for remote work and teaching.
Discord allows users to communicate over text, voice and/or video, through channels, groups, or private chats.
The app became popular among gamers for being a good meeting point option: it is possible to play online and talk to people on a Discord voice channel at the same time. In addition, there is the streaming option, which is when someone streams their computer screen live so that other people can see their game.
Another strength is the communities Discord forms. There are servers of the most varied themes, where users can discuss news, ask questions, give out advice and even find other players to play together.
How Discord works
To better understand how it works, we are first going to explain its structure. If your kids are on Discord, it is important to know the following details.
Server: Servers are spaces on Discord. They’re like cities in a country, created by specific communities or friend groups. According to Discord, most servers are small-sized and only for guests – in other words, they’re private and you need an authorization to be a part of them. Some servers are public. Any user can create a new server for free and invite their friends to be a part of it.
Channel: Servers are organized by voice and text channels. Many servers organize channels over specific topics and may have different rules. On text channels, users can post messages, upload files, and share messages with other users. On voice channels, users can connect through voice or video calls in real time, in addition to being able to stream their screen for their friends to see. It’s also possible to send private messages to other users and create private group chats with up to 10 participants, to which access is only by invitation. It’s also possible to create private channels with fewer users – in this case, only the participants of such a channel can see the messages posted there.
Is Discord for kids?
According to Discord’s Terms of Service, it requires that users are at least 13 years old to access the app or the website. This is done by date of birth confirmation during the registration that gives access to Discord. If the user is under 13 years of age, the account is blocked. Of course, many kids know this and type in another date of birth so that they can create an account, just like in many other websites and apps.
Discord takes some precautions to make their user’s experience safer, regardless of age:
As we explained, most Discord groups are private and only guests are allowed in.
All chats are optional; that is, each user chooses who can add them as a friend, who can send them messages and what kind of content they can receive.
Discord doesn’t share personal information, including contact information and private chats. The app doesn’t ask for a real name when you create an account and it doesn’t sell their users’ data to advertisers.
If your kid is younger than 13 and is already on Discord, be aware that this is not in accordance with the platform’s rules. Maybe you can both reach an agreement to migrate to another platform where kids are allowed, but we know this may be a challenging task. If they don’t budge and you decide not to forbid your kid from playing with their friends on Discord, you need to pay attention to the following issues:
Set to increase safety
Discord doesn’t have parental controls, but there are some settings that can make your kids safer there. In order to do that, open Discord and search the navigation menu for User Settings, which has a gear icon, and then click on Privacy and Security. There are many options there that you can either turn on or off. Here are some tips:
Safe and Direct Message: For underage users, it’s recommended that the option Keep me Safe is activated, so that it’s possible to analyze direct messages from everyone.
Who can friend you: Here it’s advised that only the option Friends of Friends, in order to have more control over who can add your kids as friends, but without trimming their friends circle completely. If you prefer that only server members are allowed to add your kids, that’s also possible, but remember: there are game servers with a lot of users. You may even choose to select none of these options. In this case, your kids won’t receive any friend requests, but they can still send them to other people.
Blocking other users: if there’s someone bothering your kids, it’s possible to block them. Blocking users prevents them from sending you messages and removes them from your friends list. In addition, it hides the messages sent by this person in any server you two have in common. To do that, you only need to right click on @username and select Block.
How to report issues on Discord
If you or your kids see hate messages, threats, or any act that goes against Discord’s rules, it’s possible to report it. In order to do that, you need to copy the message link. You can get this link by right clicking on the message, selecting the option “copy message link” and pasting the message over DM (Direct Message, when you send a message directly to Discord) or over the Discord server, both within the platform.
It’s also possible to send an email by filling out a form that describes what happened. Here, in the option What we can help you?, select the option Trust & Safety. We recommend attaching screenshots of the chat and saving all the message links. The message should be written in English.
Written by Luisa Scherer
Translated by Mariana Gruber
Discord was created for people over 13 years old. At this age, teenagers are mature enough to deal with subjects like bullying, they notice more easily when they’re being tricked and they are aware that anyone could be on the other side of the screen. Kids under 13 don’t have the necessary skills yet to notice some of these warnings.
Despite that, Discord is a great platform to play online with friends, and we know it’s one of kids and teenagers’ favorites. If your kids are younger than the minimum age and use it either way, it’s up to each parent to decide whether or not your kids are allowed to be on Discord. We believe it’s possible to keep kids on the platform so long as you’re very attentive.
Therefore, make sure your kids know all their Discord friends from real life or make sure that they’re all the same age. It’s also worth asking your kids if you can arrange to talk to their virtual friends’ parents one day, in order to ensure that the kids are, in fact, the same age and that all parents from “both sides” are on the same page.
If your kids are under 13, we suggest they don’t use headphones when they’re on Discord. It’s easier for you to be attentive this way and notice what is being said in the channels and servers they are a part of.
Keep an open and recurring dialogue over your kids’ games and the experiences on Discord. Talk to them, be interested in what they play. This makes it all easier when they need your help. Always mention some precautions they should take, such as not accepting friend requests from people they don’t know, asking for your help when they stumble across something unusual and this type of thing.
Remember that your kids and their friends can also create servers. We recommend reading this to learn how to create a safe Discord server.
Discord: Jinsi ya Kuhifadhi Watoto Wako Salama - Juni 19, 2021 - Ikiwa watoto wako wanaanza kucheza michezo ya kompyuta, inawezekana kwamba hivi karibuni utaisikia kuhusu Discord. Hapa kuna baadhi ya habari muhimu kuhusu Discord kwa ajili ya wewe kujua nini watoto ni kufanya kucheza online. Discord ni programu ya mazungumzo. Ni maarufu sana ndani ya jamii ya michezo ya kubahatisha, lakini imepata umaarufu ndani ya niches nyingine pia tangu makampuni mengi na shule wamekubali programu kwa ajili ya kazi ya mbali na kufundisha. Discord inaruhusu watumiaji kuwasiliana kupitia maandishi, sauti na au video, kupitia njia, vikundi, au mazungumzo ya kibinafsi. Programu hiyo ilipata umaarufu miongoni mwa wachezaji kwa kuwa chaguo nzuri la mkutano: inawezekana kucheza mtandaoni na kuzungumza na watu kwenye kituo cha sauti cha Discord wakati huo huo. Kwa upande mwingine, kuna njia ya kusambaza, ambayo ni wakati mtu anapiga skrini ya kompyuta yake moja kwa moja ili watu wengine waweze kuona mchezo wao. Nguvu nyingine ni jamii Discord fomu. Kuna seva ya mandhari mbalimbali, ambapo watumiaji wanaweza kujadili habari, kuuliza maswali, kutoa ushauri na hata kupata wachezaji wengine kucheza pamoja. Jinsi Discord inafanya kazi Ili kuelewa vizuri jinsi inafanya kazi, kwanza tutaelezea muundo wake. Ikiwa watoto wako wako kwenye Discord, ni muhimu kujua maelezo yafuatayo. "Hii ni kwa sababu ""servers"" ni sehemu ya ""Discord.""" Wao ni kama miji katika nchi, iliyoundwa na jamii maalum au makundi ya marafiki. Kulingana na Discord, seva nyingi ni ndogo na tu kwa ajili ya wageni - kwa maneno mengine, wao ni binafsi na unahitaji idhini ya kuwa sehemu yao. Baadhi ya seva ni za umma. Mtumiaji yeyote anaweza kuunda seva mpya kwa bure na kuwakaribisha marafiki zao kuwa sehemu yake. Channel: Servers ni kupangwa kwa sauti na maandishi njia. Seva nyingi kupanga njia juu ya mada maalum na inaweza kuwa na sheria tofauti. Katika njia za maandishi, watumiaji wanaweza kuchapisha ujumbe, kupakia faili, na kushiriki ujumbe na watumiaji wengine. Katika njia za sauti, watumiaji wanaweza kuunganisha kupitia simu za sauti au video kwa wakati halisi, pamoja na kuweza kusambaza skrini yao kwa marafiki wao kuona. Pia inawezekana kutuma ujumbe binafsi kwa watumiaji wengine na kuunda mazungumzo ya kikundi binafsi na hadi washiriki kumi, ambayo upatikanaji ni tu kwa mwaliko. Pia inawezekana kuunda njia za kibinafsi na watumiaji wachache - katika kesi hii, washiriki tu wa kituo kama hicho wanaweza kuona ujumbe uliotumwa huko. Je, Discord ni kwa ajili ya watoto? Kulingana na Masharti ya Huduma ya Discord, watumiaji wanapaswa kuwa na umri wa miaka 13 au zaidi ili kupata programu au wavuti. Hii ni kufanyika kwa tarehe ya kuzaliwa uthibitisho wakati wa usajili kwamba inatoa upatikanaji wa Discord. Ikiwa mtumiaji ni chini ya umri wa miaka 13, akaunti hiyo imefungwa. Watoto wengi wanajua hii na huandika tarehe nyingine ya kuzaliwa ili waweze kuunda akaunti, kama ilivyo kwenye tovuti na programu nyingine nyingi. Discord inachukua tahadhari kadhaa ili kufanya uzoefu wa mtumiaji wao kuwa salama zaidi, bila kujali umri: Kama tulivyoelezea, vikundi vingi vya Discord ni vya kibinafsi na wageni tu wanaruhusiwa kuingia. Matangazo yote ni ya hiari, ambayo ni kwamba kila mtumiaji huchagua nani anaweza kuwaongeza kama rafiki, nani anaweza kuwapeleka ujumbe na ni aina gani ya yaliyomo wanaweza kupokea. Discord haishiriki habari za kibinafsi, ikiwa ni pamoja na habari za mawasiliano na mazungumzo ya kibinafsi. Programu hiyo haitoi jina halisi unapofanya akaunti na haiiuzii watumiaji wao data kwa watangazaji. Ikiwa mtoto wako ni mdogo kuliko miaka 13 na tayari yuko kwenye Discord, kumbuka kuwa hii haifai kulingana na sheria za jukwaa. Labda nyote wawili mnaweza kufikia makubaliano ya kuhamia kwenye jukwaa lingine ambapo watoto wanaruhusiwa, lakini tunajua hii inaweza kuwa kazi ngumu. Ikiwa hawawezi kuhamia na unaamua kutomkataza mtoto wako kucheza na marafiki zao kwenye Discord, unahitaji kuzingatia masuala yafuatayo: Seti ili kuongeza usalama Discord haina udhibiti wa wazazi, lakini kuna baadhi ya mipangilio ambayo inaweza kufanya watoto wako salama zaidi huko. Ili kufanya hivyo, fungua Discord na utafute orodha ya urambazaji kwa Mipangilio ya Mtumiaji, ambayo ina ikoni ya gear, kisha bonyeza Faragha na Usalama. Kuna chaguzi nyingi ambazo unaweza kuzima au kuzima. Hapa ni baadhi ya vidokezo: Salama na Direct Ujumbe: Kwa watumiaji chini ya umri wa miaka, ni ilipendekeza kwamba chaguo Keep me Safe ni kuanzishwa, hivyo kwamba ni inawezekana kuchambua ujumbe wa moja kwa moja kutoka kwa kila mtu. "Hapa ni ushauri kwamba tu chaguo ""Friends of Friends"" ili kuwa na udhibiti zaidi juu ya nani anaweza kuongeza watoto wako kama marafiki, lakini bila trimming marafiki zao mzunguko kabisa." Kama wewe kupendelea kwamba tu server wanachama wanaruhusiwa kuongeza watoto wako, kwamba pia inawezekana, lakini kumbuka: kuna mchezo seva na watumiaji wengi. Unaweza hata kuchagua kuchagua hakuna moja ya chaguzi hizi. Katika kesi hii, watoto wako hawatapokea maombi yoyote ya urafiki, lakini bado wanaweza kuituma kwa watu wengine. Kuzuia watumiaji wengine: kama kuna mtu kusumbua watoto wako, ni uwezekano wa kuzuia yao. Kufunga watumiaji huwazuia kutuma ujumbe na kuwaondoa kwenye orodha yako ya marafiki. Kwa kuongezea, huficha ujumbe uliotumwa na mtu huyu katika seva yoyote ambayo nyinyi wawili mnafanana. Ili kufanya hivyo, unahitaji tu kubonyeza haki juu ya @ jina la mtumiaji na kuchagua Block. Jinsi ya kuripoti masuala kwenye Discord Ikiwa wewe au watoto wako unaona ujumbe wa chuki, vitisho, au kitendo chochote kinachopinga sheria za Discord, inawezekana kuripoti. Ili kufanya hivyo, unahitaji kunakili kiungo cha ujumbe. Unaweza kupata kiungo hiki kwa kubonyeza kulia kwenye ujumbe, kuchagua chaguo <unk> nakala kiungo cha ujumbe<unk> na kuweka ujumbe juu ya DM (Ujumbe wa moja kwa moja, wakati unatuma ujumbe moja kwa moja kwa Discord) au juu ya seva ya Discord, zote mbili ndani ya jukwaa. Pia inawezekana kutuma barua pepe kwa kujaza fomu ambayo inaelezea kile kilichotokea. Hapa, katika chaguo Nini tunaweza kukusaidia?, chagua chaguo Uaminifu na Usalama. Tunapendekeza kuunganisha screenshots ya mazungumzo na kuhifadhi viungo vyote vya ujumbe. Ujumbe huo unapaswa kuandikwa kwa Kiingereza. "Kama ilivyoelezwa na Luisa Scherer, ""Discord"" ni kitabu cha watu wenye umri wa miaka 13 na zaidi." Katika umri huu, matineja ni kukomaa kutosha kushughulika na mada kama vile unyanyasaji, wao kutambua kwa urahisi zaidi wakati wao ni kuwa udanganyifu na wao ni ufahamu kwamba mtu yeyote anaweza kuwa upande mwingine wa screen. Watoto chini ya umri wa miaka 13 hawana ujuzi wa kutosha kugundua baadhi ya maonyo haya. Licha ya hayo, Discord ni jukwaa kubwa ya kucheza online na marafiki, na tunajua ni moja ya watoto na matineja favorites. Ikiwa watoto wako ni wadogo kuliko umri wa chini na hutumia kwa njia yoyote, ni juu ya kila mzazi kuamua kama watoto wako wanaruhusiwa kuwa kwenye Discord au la. Tunaamini inawezekana kuweka watoto kwenye jukwaa kwa muda mrefu kama wewe ni makini sana. Kwa hiyo, hakikisha watoto wako wanajua marafiki wao wote wa Discord kutoka maisha halisi au hakikisha kwamba wote wana umri sawa. Ni pia thamani ya kuuliza watoto wako kama unaweza kupanga kuzungumza na marafiki zao virtual wazazi siku moja, ili kuhakikisha kwamba watoto ni, kwa kweli, umri sawa na kwamba wazazi wote kutoka pande zote mbili ni juu ya ukurasa huo. Ikiwa watoto wako ni chini ya miaka 13, tunapendekeza wasitumie vichwa vya sauti wakati wako kwenye Discord. Ni rahisi kwa ajili yenu kuwa makini kwa njia hii na kutambua nini ni alisema katika njia na seva wao ni sehemu ya. Weka mazungumzo ya wazi na ya mara kwa mara juu ya michezo ya watoto wako na uzoefu kwenye Discord. Zungumza nao, na kuwa na hamu ya kujua wanachokifanya. Hii hufanya iwe rahisi zaidi wakati wanahitaji msaada wako. Daima taja tahadhari ambazo wanapaswa kuchukua, kama vile kutokubali maombi ya urafiki kutoka kwa watu ambao hawajui, kuomba msaada wako wakati wanakumbana na kitu kisicho cha kawaida na aina hii ya kitu. Kumbuka kwamba watoto wako na marafiki zao wanaweza pia kuunda seva. Tunapendekeza kusoma hii kujifunza jinsi ya kuunda salama Discord server.