Discord
Our age is 16. Take care because of open servers and private messages with strangers.
Checked October 2026.
- Our rating
- High Risk
- Chat
- Text, voice and video. Since September 2026, accounts Discord places as teens get message requests and blurred images by default.
- Spending
- Nitro and Shop items, bought in the app
- Parent controls
- Family Center, linked from your own Discord app
- Plays on
- iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, Web
- Users
- 200M+
- Setup
- 9 stops, about 15 minutes
Do these three first
- Connect Family CenterUser SettingsFamily CenterMy FamilyConnect with GuardianQR codes expire after a short time, so have both phones ready.
- Restrict direct messagesUser SettingsContent & SocialSocial PermissionsStop server members and strangers from messaging or friending them.
- Set the sensitive media filterUser SettingsContent & SocialSensitive mediaBlur or block sensitive images and videos in messages and servers.
Why we say take care
Discord is a communication platform built around "servers" - community spaces where users can text chat, voice chat, video call, and stream content. Originally designed for gamers, it's now used for everything from study groups to fan communities to friend hangouts. It's essentially a hybrid of Slack, Zoom, and social media.
- Unmoderated CommunitiesThousands of servers exist with no content moderation, including those dedicated to mature content, hate speech, or illegal activities.
- Stranger InteractionEasy to join public servers and interact with unknown adults who may have malicious intent.
- Mature ContentAge-restricted servers and channels are now limited to confirmed adults, but crude or disturbing material still turns up in ordinary servers that aren't labeled.
- Voice/Video FeaturesReal-time communication makes monitoring nearly impossible and enables grooming.
- Doxxing & HarassmentDiscord conflicts can escalate to revealing personal information or coordinated harassment campaigns.
- Gaming OverlapOften installed alongside games, normalizing its presence even if you don't realize your child uses it.
Talk about it
- What Discord servers are you part of? What do people talk about there?Shows interest without being accusatory.
- Do you know the people in your servers in real life, or are they online friends?Assesses stranger interaction levels.
- Has anyone in a server ever made you feel uncomfortable or asked personal questions?Creates opening to discuss concerning interactions.
- What would you do if you saw something inappropriate in a server?Tests their safety awareness.
The full route: 9 stops, about 15 minutes
- Open the safety settings
- Set the sensitive media filter
- Restrict direct messages
- Apply the filter everywhere
- Review their servers
- Turn on two-factor authentication
- Choose what activity others seeoptional
- Connect Family Centeroptional
- Check the settings
Start the setupFree to follow. With Family, your progress is saved for each child.
The complete Discord parent guide, with age-by-age settings, is part of the Family plan.
The full guide
Discord is a communication platform popular with gamers and online communities. While it offers useful features, the unmoderated nature of many servers requires careful parental attention.
Discord's Family Center gives parents a dashboard showing who their teen talks to and which servers they join (never message content), and a November 2025 update let connected guardians manage a few settings for DMs and content filtering. But Family Center requires your teen to opt in from their own device, there are still no time limits inside Discord, and most safety settings live on your teen's account — which they can change. Plan for active monitoring and open communication alongside these tools, not technical enforcement alone.
Discord has been associated with predator activity, exposure to inappropriate content, and cyberbullying. Understand the platform before allowing use.
Understanding Discord
Key Concepts
- Servers: Community spaces (public or private) on specific topics
- Channels: Chat rooms within servers (text or voice)
- Direct Messages (DMs): Private conversations between users
- Voice Channels: Live voice/video chat
- Bots: Automated programs that add features
Why Teens Use Discord
- Gaming coordination (playing together)
- School/study groups
- Hobby communities
- Friend groups
- Content creator communities
Family Center Setup
Discord's Family Center links your account to your teen's for activity visibility and a few guardian-controlled settings.
Both Install the Mobile App
Setup must be completed in the Discord mobile app on both phones. You need your own Discord account.
Teen Generates a QR Code
On your teen's phone:
Scan the Code
On your phone:
Scan your teen's QR code — codes expire quickly, so do this together.
Teen Accepts
Your teen must accept the connection request to complete setup.
What Parents Can See
- Recently added friends (names and avatars)
- Servers joined or participated in, and their most active servers
- Who they've messaged or called, and when — never the content
- Time spent in voice and video calls over the past week
- Purchases made in the past week (Nitro, Shop items)
- Weekly activity summary emails
What Parents Can Control
Since November 2025, a connected guardian can manage:
- Who can send your teen direct messages
- Whether sensitive content is filtered
- How Discord uses your teen's data, including personalized ads
Your teen sees the same settings, so review them together. Teens can also choose to let you know when they file a report (you're told a report was made, not what it said).
Family Center depends on your teen's participation — they must opt in from their own device. Check periodically that the connection is still active.
Built-in Safety Features
Sensitive Content Filters
Discord scans images and videos for sexually explicit and graphic material:
Options for DMs from friends, DMs from others, and servers: Show, Blur, or Block. Set them to "Block" for teens.
On teen and unconfirmed accounts the filters are on by default (blur for friends and servers, block for everyone else), and only accounts Discord confirms as adults can choose "Show". (This replaced Discord's older "Safe Direct Messaging" and explicit image filter settings.)
Safety Alerts
Discord shows teens a safety alert when someone messages them for the first time, with options to block the sender or view safety tips. Enabled by default for teen accounts.
Privacy Settings
Who Can Direct Message
The Direct messages toggle (under Social permissions on desktop, Server Settings on mobile) controls DMs from members of servers you share:
- OFF: Only friends can DM
- ON: Anyone in shared servers can DM
When you switch it off, Discord asks whether to apply the change to the servers your teen is already in. Say yes.
Disabling DMs from server members significantly reduces contact from strangers. On teen and unconfirmed accounts, messages from people they may not know also land in a separate Message Requests inbox, and only a confirmed adult can turn that off.
Who Can Friend Request
Options for "Who can send you a friend request":
- Everyone
- Server Members
- Friends of Friends
Consider setting to "Friends of Friends" only.
Server-by-Server Settings
Turn off direct messages from members of one particular server, for example a big public one, without changing the rest.
Server Safety
Age-Gated Servers and Age Groups
Some servers and channels are marked age-restricted (NSFW). Since September 22, 2026, Discord sorts every account worldwide into an adult or teen group using account signals such as account age and the servers it's in (not message content). Discord says more than 90% of users won't be asked to confirm their age.
Teen accounts, and accounts Discord can't place ("Unconfirmed"), keep the stricter defaults: no age-restricted spaces, message requests for people they may not know, and blurred or blocked sensitive images. Anyone who wants to change those has to confirm they're an adult, for example with facial age estimation or an ID scan. UK and Australian users have had these checks since 2025.
Understand Server Risks
- Public servers: Anyone can join, unvetted members
- Private servers: Invite-only, but invites can spread
- Official servers: Run by companies/creators, usually moderated
- Small private servers: Friends only, safest option
Server Discovery
This feature lets users browse and join public servers. Many contain inappropriate content or communities.
Monitor Server Membership
Periodically review which servers your teen has joined:
- Look at server names
- Ask about unfamiliar servers
- Discuss what happens in those communities
Age-Restricted Content
Birthdate Matters
Discord uses the birthdate, along with its own age estimate, to:
- Gate access to age-restricted servers
- Filter certain content
- Restrict some features
Ensure your teen's account has an accurate birthdate. Their age group shows under User Settings > My Account.
NSFW Channels
Within servers, individual channels can be marked NSFW. Only accounts Discord confirms as adults can open them.
If your teen is seeing NSFW content:
- Check their birthdate and age group on the account
- Set the Sensitive Media filters to "Block"
- Review their server memberships
Voice and Video Safety
Voice Channels
Voice channels allow real-time communication with potentially many strangers.
- Can't be filtered like text
- May expose teens to inappropriate language
- Difficult to monitor
Video Chat
Discord supports video calls in DMs and some servers.
Streaming
Users can share their screen ("Go Live"). This could expose personal information visible on their computer.
Many concerning interactions happen in voice channels because there's no log or filter. Monitor who your teen voice chats with.
Account Security
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Enable 2FA to prevent account theft:
Discord accounts can be valuable targets.
Email Security
Use a parent-accessible email for the account to maintain oversight and recovery options.
Password Best Practices
- Use strong, unique password
- Don't share with friends
- Enable 2FA
Specific Risks
Predator Activity
Discord has been used by predators to:
- Contact children via DMs
- Build relationships over time
- Move conversations to other platforms
- Request personal information or images
Red Flags:
- Adult wanting to be "special friends"
- Asking to keep conversations secret
- Requesting photos
- Offering gifts or money
- Trying to move to other platforms
Inappropriate Servers
Servers exist for:
- Adult content
- Drug discussion
- Hate groups
- Illegal activities
Even accidentally joining exposes content.
Cyberbullying
- Can occur in servers or DMs
- Group pile-ons in voice channels
- Screenshot sharing and mockery
Doxxing
Sharing personal information (address, school, etc.) as harassment.
Parental Monitoring
Discord's Limitations
Even with Family Center connected, you cannot:
- See message content remotely
- Set time limits in Discord
- Approve friend requests
- Monitor voice chats
Complementary Approaches
- Family Center: Connect it for visibility into who they talk to and guardian-managed DM and content settings
- Open Communication: Discuss what servers they're in and who they talk to
- Regular Check-ins: Periodically look at their Discord together
- Know Their Friends: Understand who they communicate with
- Device Controls: Use platform parental controls for time limits
- Third-Party Software: Consider monitoring software (with their knowledge)
Warning Signs
Watch for:
- Secretive behavior about Discord
- Quickly switching screens when you approach
- New "friends" who seem older
- Receiving gifts from online contacts
- Emotional changes after Discord use
For Gaming Use Only
If your teen primarily needs Discord for gaming:
Restrict to Specific Servers
Allow only:
- Private server with real-life friends
- Official game servers (moderated)
Disable DMs Entirely
Turn off DMs from server members in all servers.
Voice Chat Only with Friends
Only voice chat in servers with known friends.
Safety Conversations
Topics to Discuss
- Why strangers might want to contact them
- What predator behavior looks like
- That online friends aren't the same as real friends
- How to handle uncomfortable situations
- That they can always come to you
Establish Rules
- Which servers are approved
- Who they can voice chat with
- No sharing personal information
- No sending/receiving photos
- Keep conversations appropriate
Age-Based Recommendations
We suggest Discord for 16 and up. If your child is already on it younger, these are the settings to tighten for their age.
Ages 13-14
- Consider whether Discord is necessary
- Strict privacy settings
- DMs from friends only
- Only pre-approved servers
- No public server joining
- Frequent check-ins
- Consider not allowing
Ages 15-16
- Privacy settings enabled
- DMs restricted
- Discuss server choices
- Know their main servers
- Regular conversations
- Open communication about interactions
Ages 17+
- Trust-based approach
- Safety features enabled
- Ongoing conversations
- Gradually increasing independence
What If My Child Bypassed This?
Outside the few guardian-locked Family Center settings, Discord's safeguards live on your teen's own account — they may simply be using Discord without the settings you agreed on. Focus on conversation and device-level controls alongside app-level fixes.
Common Situations and Responses
Turned on DMs from server members
- Check User Settings > Content & Social together and reset to recommended settings
- Settings are on the account — your teen controls them, so re-locking requires their cooperation or a device-level restriction
- With Family Center connected, you can manage who can message them from your own account
Joined servers you didn't approve
- Open Discord together and review the server list (left sidebar)
- Ask them to walk you through what each server is about
- Have them leave any servers that don't fit your agreed rules
Joined Discord despite being banned from it
- Check if they created a new account (look for a different username)
- Use iOS Screen Time or Android Family Link to block the Discord app entirely
- Block discord.com in browser restrictions as well
Using Discord via browser (to avoid app restrictions)
- Add discord.com to the blocked sites list in iOS Screen Time (Limit Adult Websites > Never Allow) or Family Link
- This prevents browser access even if the app is removed
Sharing personal information in servers or DMs
- If you discover this, don't panic — address it calmly
- If location was shared: assess whether anyone concerning has it; consider informing school if relevant
- If photos were shared: report to Discord Trust & Safety if they were inappropriate
- Review and tighten DM settings together
Concerning contacts or interactions discovered
- If a contact seems like an adult targeting your teen, report via Discord's Trust & Safety: dis.gd/request
- Document the conversation (screenshots) before blocking
- For serious situations (exploitation, threats), contact local law enforcement
After a Bypass: Practical Steps
- Sit down together and review current Discord settings
- Re-establish the approved server list
- Use device-level blocking if trust has significantly broken down
- Consider whether Discord access should be paused temporarily while you reset expectations
- Focus on rebuilding communication — technical controls alone won't work long-term on Discord
Quick Setup Checklist
If Something Goes Wrong
Blocking Users
This prevents all contact.
Reporting Users
Report for harassment, dangerous behavior, or illegal activity.
Leaving Servers
Can be done instantly.
Contacting Discord Trust & Safety
For serious issues: dis.gd/request
Involving Authorities
For threats, exploitation, or illegal activity, contact local law enforcement.
Additional Resources
Discord requires more active parental involvement than most platforms. Regular conversations and ongoing monitoring are essential for safe use.
Discord is also on our apps to watch list.