How we decided on Discord

Our safety checks

Discord fails 3 of our 7 safety checks. We apply the same strict rules to every app and game.

1. Could we confirm every fact?

   ✓ Yes

   Every fact below links to its source. Rule 1

2. Is your child old enough for the official ratings?

   ! Only from 12

   Rated 12+ by Apple App Store and Google Play (UK). Rule 2

3. Can you stop strangers contacting your child?

   ✗ No

   Messages from people a teen may not know go to a separate inbox, which only a confirmed adult can change. But strangers can still talk to teens in servers, and parents can’t block that. Rule 3Source

4. Is every risk under control once settings are on?

   ✗ No

   Still high risk with every control on: contact from strangers. Rule 4

5. Is its child-safety record clear?

   ✗ No

   New Jersey’s Attorney General is suing Discord, saying it misled parents about its safety features while children were exposed to sexual exploitation by predators. The case is still open. Rule 5Source

6. Can you stop all spending?

   ✓ Yes

   On phones, purchases go through Apple or Google, which let parents require approval for every purchase. On a computer, nothing can be bought without saved payment details. Rule 6Source

7. Is everything checked before children see it?

   ! No

   Anyone can create a server and post messages, images and videos, which are not checked by a person before children see them. So the best we can say is “only with conditions”. Rule 7