Smart Social Podcast: Keeping students safe so they can Shine Online

Discord Chat App: Safety Guide for Parents, Students, and Educators

Episode Summary

With more than 250 million users, a lot of people are posting a lot of things on the Discord App - and it’s not all about gaming. SmartSocial.com Founder Josh Ochs explains what parents and educators need to know about the popular voice, video, and text chat app.

Episode Notes

If your student is a gamer, there’s a good chance they’re on the Discord chat app. Discord is a free voice, video, and text chat app that boasts more than 250 million users. Like many chat apps, Discord doesn’t put out dangerous content, but some people who use it might. If your student is connecting with random people on Discord, they’re putting themselves at risk of coming across inappropriate content and conversations. 

What is the Discord chat app?

• Discord is a free voice, video, and text chat app 
• Users can livestream games and internet videos
• Discord started as an app for gamers, but it has branched out to become a general use platform where users chat about various topics
• Users can access the app via their internet browser, PC, or mobile device

Why students like Discord

• Users playing the same game can set up Discord groups to communicate during live gameplay (they can continue to communicate, even when they aren’t playing)
• Users can send videos, photos, GIFs, text, and music through the app
• Discord users can connect with others by:
  1. Joining a public group, called a server (there are 100,000+ public servers with topics ranging from games to studying to sexuality)
  2. Joining a private server someone invited them to
  3. Creating their own private server and inviting friends
  4. Sending and receiving one-on-one private messages

Where is the Discord chat app available?

• Apple App Store Rating: 12+ 
• Google Play Rating: T (Teen)
• Internet Browser, PC
• Developer’s Website: Discord (Based in USA, Owned by Discord Inc.)
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy

Why should parents care?

• Some servers on the app that host 100,000+ members, although most are limited to 10 users
• Cyberbully can be an issue when players belittle other players or exclude friends from group chats
• Students can easily come across abusive language in chats
• Users must confirm that they are 18+ to view content tagged NSFW (not safe for work). However, there is no age verification process
• Anyone can create a group chat server and some parents report that it can be easy for strangers to message students through the app
• It can also be easy for students to hide private messages
• The app is free, but in-app upgrades are available

Read SmartSocial.com's updated Discord chat app guide: https://smartsocial.com/discord-app/

Learn from Smart Social's resources: 

• Join our free newsletter for parents and educators: https://smartsocial.com/newsletter/
• Register for a free online Parent Night to learn the hidden safety features on popular apps: https://smartsocial.com/social-media-webinar/
• Become a Smart Social VIP (Very Informed Parents) Member and unlock 30+ workshops (learn online safety and how to Shine Online™): https://learn.smartsocial.com/
• Download the free Smart Social app: https://smartsocial.com/app
• Learn the top 100 popular teen apps: https://smartsocial.com/app-guide-parents-teachers/
• View the top parental control software: https://smartsocial.com/parental-control-software/
• Learn the latest Teen Slang, Emojis & Hashtags: https://smartsocial.com/teen-slang-emojis-hashtags-list/
• Get ideas for offline activities for your students: https://smartsocial.com/offline-activities-reduce-screentime/
• Get Educational Online Activity ideas for your students: https://smartsocial.com/offline-activities-reduce-screentime/

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