How to enable parental controls in discord
By Isabella Wilson
Next up on the list of wacky social apps that teens totally get but leave parents scratching their heads: Discord – Chat for Gamers. Compared with the bright and friendly feeling of kid faves like Snapchat and Instagram, Discord mixes low-key design with high-tech features. Initially created for gamers to talk while they’re playing, Discord has morphed into a place for anyone to explore their interests in subject-specific groups. Like other social networks, Discord can be iffy or safe. But, because it allows any user to create both public and private groups, the risks for kids can be tiny or huge, depending on how they use it.
Partly due to the popularity of games such as Fortnite, Discord grew quickly (it now has over 100 million users — a bit less than Snapchat but a lot less than Instagram’s 400 million). It’s also had safety problems, including being at the center of at least one serious crime against a teen and a human-trafficking ring. If they know where to look, teens can easily find mature content on its public channels. And its invite-only private servers also have become places where bad actors and even cybercriminals can come together to communicate. At the same time, teens can use the app without contacting anyone but their friends and avoid the unrestricted chat from other games and platforms for a more secure experience.
So is Discord the best thing that ever happened to gamers, or is it a Wild West of inappropriate content? Read Common Sense Media’s full review of Discord – Chat for Gamers, and learn more about how it works. Then check out some of parents’ most frequently asked questions about the app and how to use it safely, below.
What is Discord?
Discord is a free app for mobile and PC that lets people chat via text, voice, or video in real time. Combining the internet-calling features of Skype with Reddit-like discussion boards, it’s broadened from gamers-only to a social networking site for communities of all types, including those with non-gaming interests like anime, TV series, music, and more. It can also be an easy-to-use group-chatting tool for friends.
How old should you be to use Discord?
Discord requires that users be at least 13 years old, although they do not verify users’ age upon sign-up. Common Sense Media also recommends Discord users be at least 13 due to its open chat. Because it’s all user-generated, there’s plenty of inappropriate content, like swearing and graphic language and images (though it’s entirely possible to belong to a group that forbids these). Discord also has “NSFW” channels and servers that require users to be 18 or older to join (but it’s easy to click through the verification).
What are servers on Discord?
Servers are the main communities on Discord, often focused on a single game or topic. Anyone on the app can create a server upon sign-up. There are private servers that require an invitation to join as well as public servers that anyone can take part in. Servers are broken up into text channels and voice channels, and some have bots (computer programs that mimic human interaction) that do automatic moderation, welcoming, and community management. Discord doesn’t have an in-app way to search for servers unless you’ve already joined them, so users have to be invited directly or else find out about them from other sources, like friends or social media.
Is Discord safe?
With the right privacy settings and monitoring, it’s easy to use Discord safely. However, there’s always a risk when it comes to sites and apps with open chat. The safest way to use Discord is to only accept friend requests and participate in private servers with people you already know. Although it’s rare, there have been a handful of cases where predators have targeted kids by using Discord’s public servers to send direct messages (DMs). Even though most server moderators (and other users) are often quick to police this kind of behavior, kids and parents should know how to recognize and deal with creeps and online predators.
How is Discord related to Fortnite and Pokémon Go?
Fortnite and Pokémon Go are two games with particularly big followings on Discord, especially for tweens and teens. There are plenty of public servers dedicated to those games but also tons of private servers that friends use to chat while they play together. For example, a squad on Fortnite could create a private server on Discord to chat and strategize together in order to avoid the public chat on Fortnite itself. Discord also allows an in-game “overlay” for Fortnite and other PC games, so gamers can use Discord to chat directly within those games (instead of having the app open in the background or using the in-game chat).
Are there privacy settings for Discord?
Discord has a wide array of privacy and safety settings that allow users to control who has the ability to send them direct messages or add them as a friend. Its “Safe Direct Messaging” feature can automatically scan and delete direct messages containing explicit content (although this isn’t foolproof, and it doesn’t apply outside of DMs). Discord also lets its users decide whether the app can collect and use their data for customization or analytics purposes, which is a nice change of pace from other social apps that provide no insight or control over your data. To view and change your privacy settings, select the “User Settings” gear icon by your username, then choose the “Privacy & Safety” menu item.
Are there parental controls for Discord?
At this time, Discord doesn’t offer parental controls, so there’s no way for parents to restrict content or password-protect the privacy settings within the app.
How does Discord chat work?
Each server on Discord has both text and voice channels. Text channels allow people to type messages to each other, while voice channels let people use the microphone and speakers on their device to talk to each other. Users can directly invite friends to a specific chat channel, or you can join a channel after being invited to a server. Some channels have limits on how many people can join, which are set by the server owners. Server owners can also set their own rules for what is or isn’t allowed (for example, swearing or hate speech) and block from chat users who break the rules.
Can you share images or video on Discord?
You can share images, video, and GIFs on Discord either in text channels or direct messages (voice channels are audio only). Discord also allows for video chat and screen sharing in direct messages.
Is Discord just for gaming content?
You don’t have to play video games or even discuss them to use the app. Just about any topic is represented on Discord, although gaming, music, anime, and memes tend to be the most popular categories. The app can also be used for friends and groups to chat with each other directly, as with WhatsApp, Skype, or any other messaging service.
Teens can access Discord via their computer, web browser, or mobile phone. Once there, they can join a chat they’ve been invited to or they can create private servers and invite their friends to play and discuss games by voice, text, or video. They can also message each other individually or in group chats with up to ten other friends.
How to Block Unwanted Communications
- From User Settings, tap Privacy & Safety.
- Turn off the Allow direct messages from server members option.
- In this same menu, under Who can add you as a friend, deselect Everyone and Server members.
How to Block Inappropriate Content
Discord has the ability to set an explicit content filter that will automatically detect and delete images and uploads containing explicit and inappropriate content.
- From User Settings, tap Privacy & Safety
- Check the Keep Me Safe box. This will filter out explicit content so that it’s never seen.
Bark – The Internet Safety Solution
In addition to setting parental controls on your child’s device, the next safety layer parents and caregivers should strongly consider is a monitoring solution to assess the content their kids encounter (and produce) across text messages, social media, email, and more.
Bark helps families manage and protect their children’s entire online worlds. Our award-winning service monitors 30+ of the most popular apps and social media platforms for signs of issues like cyberbullying, suicidal ideation, online predators, threats of violence, and more. Our web filtering and screen time management tools empower families to set healthy limits around the sites and apps their kids can access and when they can visit them. Sign up today to start your free, one-week trial.
Bark’s affordable, award-winning dashboard proactively monitors text messages, YouTube, emails, and 30+ different social networks for potential safety concerns, so busy parents can save time and gain peace of mind.
Although Discord doesn’t have modern parental controls, the application does have several features you can use to restrict communication from unwanted parties and block content identified as inappropriate. Keep your kids safe while gaming online with their friends with these easy steps.
How to Block Explicit Content in Discord
In Discord, open the Settings menu by clicking on the gear icon in the bottom left next to your username and avatar.
Select the “Privacy & Safety” tab on the left side of the window. Then, under “Safe Direct Messaging”, check the “Keep Me Safe” box. Enabling this feature will ensure that all content is scanned and filtered out if it is identified as explicit or inappropriate.
How to Block Unwanted Communication in Discord
In this same “Privacy & Safety” tab (Settings > Privacy & Safety), scroll down to “Server Privacy Defaults.” Turn this setting off if you want to prevent people on a server from direct messaging you or your child. You can still communicate publicly in text and voice chat rooms on the server.
A prompt will appear, asking if you want to also block DMs from people on an existing server. Choose “Yes” or “No”, depending on your preference.
Staying in the “Privacy & Safety” tab, scroll down to “Who Can Add You As A Friend”. Deselect every option to prevent anyone from easily messaging you, while still allowing you to chat in public channels.
How to Turn On Two-Factor Authentication in Discord
As a final measure for parents, you can better regulate Discord use by enabling Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) (Update Link before pubbing). This will require you to link your Discord account with a smartphone and will prevent anyone from logging in without a spontaneously generated code.
While it’s unfortunate that savvy users of any age can always turn these features off, they can certainly curb some nefarious activity while keeping the focus on talking while gaming. The official Parent’s Guide to Discord can be an important resource in helping you and your family enjoy a healthy experience on the popular VoIP app.
Although Discord doesn’t have modern parental controls, the application does have several features you can use to restrict communication from unwanted parties and block content identified as inappropriate. Keep your kids safe while gaming online with their friends with these easy steps.
How to Block Explicit Content in Discord
In Discord, open the Settings menu by clicking on the gear icon in the bottom left next to your username and avatar.
Select the “Privacy & Safety” tab on the left side of the window. Then, under “Safe Direct Messaging”, check the “Keep Me Safe” box. Enabling this feature will ensure that all content is scanned and filtered out if it is identified as explicit or inappropriate.
How to Block Unwanted Communication in Discord
In this same “Privacy & Safety” tab (Settings > Privacy & Safety), scroll down to “Server Privacy Defaults.” Turn this setting off if you want to prevent people on a server from direct messaging you or your child. You can still communicate publicly in text and voice chat rooms on the server.
A prompt will appear, asking if you want to also block DMs from people on an existing server. Choose “Yes” or “No”, depending on your preference.
Staying in the “Privacy & Safety” tab, scroll down to “Who Can Add You As A Friend”. Deselect every option to prevent anyone from easily messaging you, while still allowing you to chat in public channels.
How to Turn On Two-Factor Authentication in Discord
As a final measure for parents, you can better regulate Discord use by enabling Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) (Update Link before pubbing). This will require you to link your Discord account with a smartphone and will prevent anyone from logging in without a spontaneously generated code.
While it’s unfortunate that savvy users of any age can always turn these features off, they can certainly curb some nefarious activity while keeping the focus on talking while gaming. The official Parent’s Guide to Discord can be an important resource in helping you and your family enjoy a healthy experience on the popular VoIP app.
Although Discord doesn’t have modern parental controls, the application does have several features you can use to restrict communication from unwanted parties and block content identified as inappropriate. Keep your kids safe while gaming online with their friends with these easy steps.
How to Block Explicit Content in Discord
In Discord, open the Settings menu by clicking on the gear icon in the bottom left next to your username and avatar.
Select the “Privacy & Safety” tab on the left side of the window. Then, under “Safe Direct Messaging”, check the “Keep Me Safe” box. Enabling this feature will ensure that all content is scanned and filtered out if it is identified as explicit or inappropriate.
How to Block Unwanted Communication in Discord
In this same “Privacy & Safety” tab (Settings > Privacy & Safety), scroll down to “Server Privacy Defaults.” Turn this setting off if you want to prevent people on a server from direct messaging you or your child. You can still communicate publicly in text and voice chat rooms on the server.
A prompt will appear, asking if you want to also block DMs from people on an existing server. Choose “Yes” or “No”, depending on your preference.
Staying in the “Privacy & Safety” tab, scroll down to “Who Can Add You As A Friend”. Deselect every option to prevent anyone from easily messaging you, while still allowing you to chat in public channels.
How to Turn On Two-Factor Authentication in Discord
As a final measure for parents, you can better regulate Discord use by enabling Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) (Update Link before pubbing). This will require you to link your Discord account with a smartphone and will prevent anyone from logging in without a spontaneously generated code.
While it’s unfortunate that savvy users of any age can always turn these features off, they can certainly curb some nefarious activity while keeping the focus on talking while gaming. The official Parent’s Guide to Discord can be an important resource in helping you and your family enjoy a healthy experience on the popular VoIP app.
Although Discord doesn’t have modern parental controls, the application does have several features you can use to restrict communication from unwanted parties and block content identified as inappropriate. Keep your kids safe while gaming online with their friends with these easy steps.
How to Block Explicit Content in Discord
In Discord, open the Settings menu by clicking on the gear icon in the bottom left next to your username and avatar.
Select the “Privacy & Safety” tab on the left side of the window. Then, under “Safe Direct Messaging”, check the “Keep Me Safe” box. Enabling this feature will ensure that all content is scanned and filtered out if it is identified as explicit or inappropriate.
How to Block Unwanted Communication in Discord
In this same “Privacy & Safety” tab (Settings > Privacy & Safety), scroll down to “Server Privacy Defaults.” Turn this setting off if you want to prevent people on a server from direct messaging you or your child. You can still communicate publicly in text and voice chat rooms on the server.
A prompt will appear, asking if you want to also block DMs from people on an existing server. Choose “Yes” or “No”, depending on your preference.
Staying in the “Privacy & Safety” tab, scroll down to “Who Can Add You As A Friend”. Deselect every option to prevent anyone from easily messaging you, while still allowing you to chat in public channels.
How to Turn On Two-Factor Authentication in Discord
As a final measure for parents, you can better regulate Discord use by enabling Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) (Update Link before pubbing). This will require you to link your Discord account with a smartphone and will prevent anyone from logging in without a spontaneously generated code.
While it’s unfortunate that savvy users of any age can always turn these features off, they can certainly curb some nefarious activity while keeping the focus on talking while gaming. The official Parent’s Guide to Discord can be an important resource in helping you and your family enjoy a healthy experience on the popular VoIP app.
Kids grow up fast, and before you know it, parents need to worry about parental controls on smartphones and tablets. If you’re an Android user, you might be a little confused about where to start.
Because Android devices are available from many different manufacturers, the parental settings are not going to be identical for each.
In this article, we’re going to show you several methods to ensure you control what your child does on an Android device.
Method One – Go Directly to the Play Store
Unlike iPhone, Android smartphones don’t have parental controls pre-installed and ready to use. The only thing all Android devices have in common when it comes to parental control management is to adjust the Play Store settings.
The parental controls in Play Store are turned off by default. If you want to turn them on and manage them, you need to do the following:
- Open Play Store on your Android device and select Menu icon in the top left corner of the screen.
- Then choose “Settings,” followed by “Parental Controls”.
- Make sure to toggle the switch to “On”.
- You’ll immediately be asked to create a PIN that you’ll use to control all the parental settings.
- Now you can choose between two categories, “Apps and Games” and “Music”.
- When you click on “Apps and Games”, you’ll be able to choose your child’s age group. PEGI 3 is the most restrictive option, but you can even choose to allow all content if you want.
- Under “Music,” you’ll have the option to check the box that restricts explicit music.
That’s all the options for parental control in Play Store. When you’re ready to change the settings, you’ll need to use the 4-digit PIN again, so make sure you memorize it.
Method Two – Create a Restricted Profile
The Play Store parental controls aren’t very extensive, and most parents will probably find them insufficient. Another option to try is to create a restricted profile for your child on your Android device.
The problem with this method is that it’s not going to work for all Android phones and devices. Some types of Samsung phones, for example, don’t support this feature.
Other types and other manufacturers do. So, depending on which device you have, you need to create a restricted profile for your child.
- Go to your Android device settings and find the “User” option.
- You’ll see your name, and underneath a “Add user” option, you’ll click on.
- Then you’ll proceed to create a new user. Follow the instructions on the screen until you’re asked to connect to Wi-Fi.
- Then you can name your profile and add another Gmail address.
Once this process is complete, you’ll see that all the apps you previously had on your phone are no longer visible. That’s because the new user, in this case, your child, will only have to access the pre-installed apps on your phone.
And if you’ve set up the Play Store parental controls before this, they won’t be able to download any restricted apps either.
Method Three – Use a Third-Party App
For many parents, the first two methods of managing parental control on Android will still feel insufficient. Kids are crafty, and it won’t take long for them to find their way around the restrictions you’ve set up.
One of the ways you can go the extra mile is to use a trusted third-party parental control app. Apps like Kids Place offer more customization options and provide more peace of mind for you, and better-organized fun for your kids.
You can activate the app on more than one device, using the same profile, and limit which apps on the Android device they’re allowed to use.
It also features a timer, which many other Android parental control solutions don’t. Often, it’s not what the kids are doing on their phones, but how much time they spend using them.
Method Four – Simply Lock Your Screen
Sometimes the simplest way to enforce parental controls is to create a strong password and refuse to share it with a soul. For extra security, try switching the password from time to time.
Most parents just want a little bit of accountability from their kids and don’t use every opportunity to stare at their phones.
A lock pattern, passcode, or PIN that are impenetrable is often more than enough for them to learn about how to manage their screen time.
Both Parents and Kids Should Stay Safe and Happy Online
Managing your way through Android parental controls can be a complicated process. And that’s because there’s no straightforward way to enable a few options and ease your worries.
Plus, even the best possible parental controls don’t provide 100% safety from restricted content. So, parents need to stay vigilant and always keep an eye on what their kids are doing on their mobile devices.
Do you think kids should use smartphones without parental controls? Let us know in the comments section below.
Although Discord doesn’t have modern parental controls, the application does have several features you can use to restrict communication from unwanted parties and block content identified as inappropriate. Keep your kids safe while gaming online with their friends with these easy steps.
How to Block Explicit Content in Discord
In Discord, open the Settings menu by clicking on the gear icon in the bottom left next to your username and avatar.
Select the “Privacy & Safety” tab on the left side of the window. Then, under “Safe Direct Messaging”, check the “Keep Me Safe” box. Enabling this feature will ensure that all content is scanned and filtered out if it is identified as explicit or inappropriate.
How to Block Unwanted Communication in Discord
In this same “Privacy & Safety” tab (Settings > Privacy & Safety), scroll down to “Server Privacy Defaults.” Turn this setting off if you want to prevent people on a server from direct messaging you or your child. You can still communicate publicly in text and voice chat rooms on the server.
A prompt will appear, asking if you want to also block DMs from people on an existing server. Choose “Yes” or “No”, depending on your preference.
Staying in the “Privacy & Safety” tab, scroll down to “Who Can Add You As A Friend”. Deselect every option to prevent anyone from easily messaging you, while still allowing you to chat in public channels.
How to Turn On Two-Factor Authentication in Discord
As a final measure for parents, you can better regulate Discord use by enabling Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) (Update Link before pubbing). This will require you to link your Discord account with a smartphone and will prevent anyone from logging in without a spontaneously generated code.
While it’s unfortunate that savvy users of any age can always turn these features off, they can certainly curb some nefarious activity while keeping the focus on talking while gaming. The official Parent’s Guide to Discord can be an important resource in helping you and your family enjoy a healthy experience on the popular VoIP app.
iPads are phenomenal devices for younger users. Regardless of the age range, there’s something for everyone. From education to entertainment, tablet devices have become a hot ticket item for kids across the globe. However, like any internet-capable device, there are drawbacks to letting a child or young person have free reign of the internet.
If you were wondering how to enable parental controls on the iPad, you are in the right place. Read on and find out how to do it, alongside some useful tips and tricks. Parental controls can help keep your children away from inappropriate content and also block in-app purchases.
Enabling iPad Parental Controls on iPadOS 12 and Above
Apple knows how vital parental controls are; thus, they have customized them thoroughly to assist the parents. We actually have a lot of control over our children’s iPad activities thanks to Apple’s Screen Time and content restrictions. For those of you with updated iPads, let’s dive in.
Parental Controls on the iPad can are under the Screen Time tab. Here is how you can enable them:
Open the Settings app from the Home screen. Select Screen Time.
You can set a passcode with the Use Screen Time Passcode. Enter a four-digit passcode and confirm it. We highly suggest enabling this option for extra control, even though it is not necessary.
Then choose Content and Privacy Restrictions. Also, take note of some of the other options on this screenshot. We’ll review those in a moment.
When prompted, enter the passcode you created just now. Enable the Content and Privacy Restrictions by tapping the slider. It will turn blue when on, otherwise it is gray.
That is how you enable the base parental controls on the iPad. However, you need to customize them. While you’re on the same page (Content and Privacy Restrictions), you can customize the parental controls.
Simply tap on ‘Content and Privacy restrictions to visit the customization page. From here you can block explicit content, apps, and even search engine capabilities. That last one may not seem like a big deal, but if you blocked the YouTube app, your child can easily pull it up with a quick search.
Content and Privacy Restrictions – Overview
There are three major parental control options on the Content and Privacy Restrictions page.
iTunes and App Store Purchases – a self-explanatory option. It blocks anyone who doesn’t know the passcode from making purchases, deleting, or installing apps on the iPad.
Allowed Apps – this option is also easy to understand. You can limit certain apps from appearing on the Home screen of the iPad as if they didn’t exist.
Content Restrictions – this option is pretty neat. It allows you to block certain content from the iPad. You can block explicit websites, R-rated movies, music, etc.
The Privacy section right below has many other great customization options. You can disable the use of Bluetooth, Microphone, Photos, Location Sharing, etc.
Below the Privacy tab, you can find the Allow Changes tab. Here you can prevent your child from accessing the settings, changing the Apple credentials, and, most importantly, changing the passcode.
Family Sharing
Another helpful tool to monitor and control your child’s iPad activity is the Family Sharing feature. All you need to do is add their Apple ID to yours in the Settings under your phone using the ‘Family Sharing’ link.
Once done you can turn on ‘Ask to buy,’ ‘Purchase Sharing,’ and ‘Screen Time.’ Ask to buy not only prevents your child from purchasing apps, but it also means you’ll get a notification before they download free apps.
Enabling iPad Parental Controls on iOS11 and Below
Enabling parental controls on iPads with iOS11 or older operating systems is slightly different. Instead of the Screen Time menu, you need to use the Restrictions menu.
Follow the steps to enable parental controls on older iPads:
- Go to Settings, followed by General, and finally, Restrictions.
- Select Choose Enable Restrictions and confirm with the four-digit passcode.
- All the parental controls are bundled together on the Restrictions page. Move the slider on each option to enable or disable it.
The main parental control options here include in-app purchases, privacy settings, content restrictions, and app blocking. Carefully consider all of these options, and which ones do you want to enable.
There is no right or wrong way about this. You can choose all the parental controls that you deem fit for your child, or even an elderly family member.
Managing Parental Controls
Based on experience, parental controls aren’t something you set and forget about. Today’s youngest generation is much more determined and tech-savvy when it comes to bypassing the controls you’ve set in place. Parental controls across the board aren’t bullet proof. It’s a good idea to do a periodic check to ensure that the parental controls are still intact if you have an especially determined child. If we’re being honest, there are tons of TikTok videos alone waiting to show your child how to bypass controls (and many more on YouTube).
Do you use parental controls on your devices? If so, which ones do you leave on, and which ones do you disable? Feel free to talk about your experience with the iPad’s Parental Controls app in the comments section below.
