Keeping Kids Safe on Discord and Online Platforms – 9/25/2023
You might remember setting up a “telephone” with a friend made with cups and a string. Or feel nostalgic for the novelty of having your own phone line in your home growing up. Meanwhile, we’re raising the digital generation. They game online, chat online, stream TV online…everything is online. One popular channel for kids’ conversations? Discord. Here’s help keeping your kids safe on this and other online platforms.
Discord is a popular communication platform connecting communities of people online. It’s particularly popular with gamers. But kids use it for real-time voice and video calls, screen sharing, and group or private chats.
Ultimately, Discord is a versatile and powerful platform. That means it’s important to guide young users in using it responsibly.
Keeping Kids Safe on Discord
Discord requires its users to be at least 13 years old, but this is not enforced. Protecting your kids requires communication, as well as an understanding of the platform’s safety features.
Discord users can share text messages, images, GIFs, videos, and links in their channels. That means your child may encounter inappropriate content.
Reduce the probability by setting up Family Center to connect your account with your child’s:
Open Discord.
Tap on Family Center.
In user Settings, toggle the Enable Family Center tab.
Scan the QR code under your child’s Connect with Your Parent option in their Family Center tab.
Once you’re connected, you’ll be able to see friend requests, who they make calls to, and who they have messaged, although you won’t be able to see the content of those calls and messages. You can also track which servers (think of it like a text thread) they take part in. You can also receive weekly recaps via email.
It’s also a good idea to:
Encourage your child to accept friend requests only from people they know in real life;
Review their friend list to ensure no unfamiliar users are added;
Set up Safe Direct Messaging, which prevents direct messages from users not on the friend list;
Review and adjust privacy settings to enable content filters and to control who can send friend requests, see their online status, and more.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on the account for added security.
Online Safety for Kids
Controls can help, but you probably want to pair online safety with giving autonomy.
Communicate with your child about online safety. Teach them about not sharing personal information and reporting any uncomfortable situations. Remind them that someone may not be who they say they are. Warn them of the risks of meeting up with someone they meet online.
Setting screen time limits can also help curtail your child’s online activity. This encourages them to set boundaries and continue to develop other interests.
Lead by example by limiting your own online time and treating others with kindness. Encouraging critical thinking can also help your child’s digital literacy. Ask them to think about a cyberbully’s motives, or discuss why taking responsibility for online activity is important.
Finally, let them know they can come to you with concerns or uncomfortable situations. Online safety is an ongoing process. Stay involved in and updated about your child’s online activities.
Need help understanding new technologies your child is using? Our IT experts can help set up a safer online environment for your entire family. Call us today at (651) 456-8655 or visit our Contact page.
Children today have grown up surrounded by technology their entire lives. Since before they are old enough to read they can pick up a tablet or smartphone and swipe at apps and games with ease. Modern kids have an intuitive understanding and ability with technology that older generations can barely imagine. The abundance of technology, however, comes with a price.
Easy access to any marketplace can be a double-edged sword. The convenience and ease of use is a boost to those of us needing a quick app, but accidental purchases can cause a lot of headaches. One-click online shopping was once one of the biggest dangers our bank account faced. Now, many of us carry multiple devices, each with their own marketplace and app stores.
With modern tech, mobile applications, whether on iOS or Android devices, are easier than ever to buy and download. So simple in fact, that a child could do it.
Designed to Appeal – Children love to download mobile applications that feature their favorite characters, cartoons and TV shows. Advertisements are aimed specifically for children in ways that will invite them to click a link and instantly download a game.
These games are typically free, meaning they don’t require authentication by default before downloading. A new game can be downloaded, installed, and ready to run seconds from clicking an ad.
Developers commonly use, what is known in the business as, a ‘freemium’ model. This means that the game is free to download and start, but inserts paid ‘upgrades’ designed to make the player part with cash.
Freemium Games – Upgrades to games may unlock more levels, purchase an in-game currency, or outfit a character with special attributes. Competitive online games commonly employ a strategy that gives paying players an unfair advantage over ones who don’t pay. This is often referred to as ‘pay-to-win’ and entices players to spend more to get on the same level.
Many mobile-based games are designed purely to encourage in-app purchasing. Some deliberately design a deceptive or tricky user-interface that makes it easy to miss-click or make purchases by accident.
There are regular stories in the news featuring kids spending thousands on in-app purchases for virtual characters. In some cases, children can use real-world money to buy items thinking they are spending in-game currency.
Apps to Help – Of course, it’s unfair to give all applications a lousy name. Many deserve it, but not all apps are guilty of behaving badly. There are fitness apps, productivity apps, and educational apps that can act as useful tools to help enhance your day. Children can get a lot from high-quality applications in the same way educational software for the computer can be a huge classroom boost.
Getting the most out of your phone or tablet is about keeping your device safe against applications designed merely to take your money.
Secure Your Device – The best step you can take to prevent running up enormous app bills is to disable in-app purchases on your devices. This prevents apps from being able to take funds for digital items. The process to do this is simple, takes less than 2 minutes, and can save you huge amounts.
On iOS: Enter the settings screen, tap on ‘General’. Then tap on ‘Restrictions’ and tap the ‘Enable restrictions’ option. Make sure to turn “In-App Purchases” off.
On Android: Inside the Google Play App: press the phone menu button and go to Settings. Scroll down to “User Controls”, tap on the “Set or Change Pin” option and set a pin that only you will know.
In the “User Controls” menu check the option to “Use Pin for purchases”. Newer phones may label this pin as a password instead.
Safe Apps – With these options enabled, whether using an iOS or Android device, your phone or tablet is safe from app purchases in any hands.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.AcceptNoPrivacy policy
Recent Comments