Discord: Is Your Child’s Soul at RISK? (The TRUTH Parents MUST Know!)

By Kayla DeKraker

With Discord being a go-to platform for millions of teenagers to connect, chat, and play games, many parents are asking: How safe is Discord for my child?

While Discord was originally intended as a communication hub for gamers, its structure and design come with potential risks that parents should be aware of.

“I tend to view Discord a bit like Reddit or Pinterest, where the primary purpose is engaging in activities, learning, and connecting around shared interests, rather than solely serving as a social platform like Instagram or Facebook,” observed Dr. Megan Moreno, a professor and researcher at the American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health.

Like most social media platforms, a major concern for parents is the lack of insight into their child’s interactions. “The ability for users to interact anonymously, without proper identification or safeguards, is concerning across any platform,” Moreno stated.

Consider This: A Straightforward Way to Enhance Your Online Safety and Privacy

The presence of cyberbullying and inappropriate content on Discord is another significant red flag for parents. According to Moreno, keeping kids safe online is a challenge, regardless of the specific app they use.

“In the early days of the internet, there was a prevailing idea that we could shield children from harmful content,” she explained. “Now, we’ve come to realize that it’s virtually impossible to block everything, and kids will inevitably encounter something – whether it’s inaccurate information, scary content, or something simply unpleasant.”

Earlier this year, New Jersey filed a lawsuit against Discord due to inadequate child safety measures.

According to CNBC, the lawsuit alleges that the platform misled New Jersey children and their parents regarding safety features, failed to clearly outline the risks children face, and didn’t properly enforce its age restrictions.

The legal team stated, “Discord’s strategy of using confusing and hard-to-find safety settings to give a false sense of security to parents and children, while knowing that children on the platform are being targeted and exploited, constitutes unconscionable and/or abusive commercial practices.”

Familyguide recently shared advice for keeping children secure online:

• “When interacting online, kids need to recognize and report suspicious behavior and accounts.”
• “It’s essential for them to understand that they never have to respond to online contact. If something feels wrong, they should feel empowered to say ‘no.'”
• “Usernames can unintentionally reveal too much personal information. Kids need to avoid using names, birthdates, or other identifiable details when creating social media or gaming accounts.”

As with any social media platform, parental involvement is critical, whether that means monitoring their child’s Discord usage or deciding against allowing them to use the platform at all.

Related Article: Erin Napier Discusses the Negative Impact of Social Media on Youth Communication Skills

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