Theres little wonder that Discord has boomed in recent years.

The chat apps public and accessible nature also makes it a hotbed for scammers.

How Does Discord Work?

A screenshot of the Study Together server on Discord

The Study Together server has 550,000+ members who help keep each other accountable while studying

It allows people to communicate in real time within community groups (known as servers).

you might chat through text, send images and videos, or join audio or video chat channels.

you might even play games through the platform.

A screenshot of the Study Together server on Discord

The Study Together server has 550,000+ members who help keep each other accountable while studying

Through the Discover tab, you’ve got the option to find communities for almost everything.

Games likeFortnite, Roblox, Counter-Strike, Apex Legends,andPokemon Goare especially popular.

The image above is a typical Discord server.

A screenshot of the Study Together server on Discord

On the far left side, you have a list of all the servers youre a member of.

Then, youll see the chat in the main column and a list of users to the right.

Public vs. To join a private server, you have to be invited by a server owner or admin.

A screenshot showing different moderation tools on Discord

In a public server, anyone with permission can invite new users.

Every server visible on theDiscoverytab is public, but not every public server can be found this way.

Private servers offer the best level of…well, privacy.

A screenshot showing Discord’s NSFW server filter

You have better control over who can join.

Others allow anyone to invite new users, so theyre a bit less secure.

Im speaking from experience as a server moderator here sometimes, things do slip through the cracks.

A screenshot of a section of Discord’s privacy policy

This can result in additional repercussions, such as the account being banned.

Is Discord Safe?

Well, its a bit like driving a car.

A screenshot showing how to turn off some of Discord’s data collection

Likewise,Discords safe as long as you take the proper precautionsto protect yourself.

Should Kids Use Discord?

First things first,Discord has an age limit of 13+.

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If your child is younger than that, they’re technically not allowed on the platform.

That said, Discords various app store ratings are telling.

These channels may contain content that’s not appropriate for younger users.

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However, theres nothing to stop anyone under 18 from accessing these channels.

As with some other adult content, anyone can click through to see inappropriate content.

And now here’s the part we all wish I didn’t have to talk about.

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Unfortunately,there have been instances where Discord was used by harmful individuals to groom children.

Public servers can be joined by anyone, and not everyone has good intentions.

What Data Does Discord Collect?

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Discord collects 3 main kinds of data:

All in all, Discords privacy policy is very vague.

There are a variety of other AI-powered tools in the works, too.

Its a legitimate and fairly secure protocol with a basic degree of encryption.

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But, this encryption isnt as strong as that used by, for example, WhatsApp.

WhatsApp and other secure messaging services use the industry-standard AES-256-bit encryption protocol.

Discord has since rectified these issues but it hasnt stopped collecting your data.

A screenshot of the Study Together server on Discord

The first thing you gotta ask yourself is, Is this legit?.

Hackers can even connect their malware to their Discord servers by building bots for the platform.

They could even send commands to the malware through Discord to record a users microphone and webcam.

A screenshot showing different moderation tools on Discord

So if someone grabs all that information from you, its right there on Discords servers.

Fun fact: this is what happened when theSea of ThievesDiscord server was hacked.

Plenty of mods in large community servers have been compromised in this way.

A screenshot showing Discord’s NSFW server filter

To stay safe from these kinds of accounts,always be aware of who youre talking to.

Use the history to verify if their tone of voice isnt what youd expect.

Dont trust them until they can prove they are who they say they are.

A screenshot of a section of Discord’s privacy policy

If your child knows where these parameters are, they can just switch them back.

That meansits extra important to establish a culture of trust with your teen if theyre using Discord.

Help them to understand that they cant trust everyone they chat to.

A screenshot showing how to turn off some of Discord’s data collection

Kids should only have a Discord account if theyre 13 and above.

Even then, you should double-check they understand how to stay safe online before they start using Discord.

FAQs on Discord Safety

Can someone track me from my Discord?

How do I protect my child on Discord?

see to it theyre over 13 firstas thats the recommended age limit.

Is Discord safe for students?

Which is safer, Discord or Slack?

Is Discord safe for video calls?

Bear in mind thatDiscord isnt clear about whether it stores your video calls, though.

Discord doesn’t provide end-to-end encryptioneither, a feature available in some other video-calling apps like WhatsApp and Signal.

End-to-end encryption ensures that only you and the person you’re communicating with can view what’s sent.

So, if ultra-high security is a necessity for you, you might want to consider other services.

What is Better Discord, and is it safe?

It’s often used by people who want to personalize their Discord experience beyond what the official system allows.

So, Is Discord Safe to Use?

The answer isn’t exactly black and white think of it more like a shade of gray.

On one hand, Discord does have some built-in security features like 2FA and robust moderation tools.

Discord itself can store a lot of your personal information.

Your data is exposed to the websites you visit!

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