eSAFETY GUIDE
Discord logo

Discord

13+
Minimum age according to Discord
13+ Minimum age according to Discord

What is Discord?

Discord is a social chat platform originally designed for gamers, now widely used by communities of all kinds. It's available on computers, mobile devices and via web browser. Users can create a profile and interact through text messaging, voice or video chat. You can share images, files and links, and join or create servers based on your interests.

Servers are organised into channels, which can be dedicated to specific topics. Some channels may be marked as NSFW (Not Safe For Work), requiring users to confirm they are over 18 before accessing.

Discord also supports bots, which are automated tools that can be added to servers to help with different tasks. Moderation bots like Dyno Bot can automatically delete spam or block offensive language. Other bots can do useful things like send reminders or welcome new members to a server. You can also add bots for fun or creative activities – for example Midjourney lets you turn text prompts into artificial intelligence (AI) generated art, and GAwesome lets you play games in the chat, such as trivia. There are also OpenAI GPT Bots for conversation, writing and coding help.

Discord offers a paid subscription called Discord Nitro, which includes benefits like larger file uploads, enhanced appearance customization and higher-quality audio in voice chats.

Website: discordapp.com

Apps: Android app, Apple iOS app

How do people use Discord?

Lean more about the benefits and risks associated with how people use chat services like Discord.

Discord is used for: gaming, in-app purchasing, live streaming, messaging/online chat, online relationships, photo/video sharing, screen capture, voice chat and video calling. 

How can you report online abuse or block someone?

These links are provided by Discord:

How can you protect your personal information?

These links are provided by Discord:

Key safety links

These links are provided by Discord:

  • Community guidelines 
    The guidelines you are expected to uphold if you are an admin on a Discord server.
  • Trust & Safety 
    The top questions around trust and safety on Discord.
  • NSFW channels and content 
    Information about Not Safe For Work and how you can use it as a safety feature in your channels.
  • Parent’s Guide to Discord 
    An article on the Discord blog that explains the features and privacy settings of the platform from a parent’s perspective.
  • Terms of Service 
    The terms you agree to when you use Discord. A parent or guardian should review if under-18.
  • Privacy Policy 
    This outlines how data is collected and used on Discord.

Social media changes are coming

From 10 December 2025, certain social media platforms won’t be allowed to let Australian children under 16 create or keep an account.

Find out more at eSafety’s social media age restrictions hub.

About The eSafety Guide

The eSafety Guide helps you find out how to protect your personal information and report harmful content on common social media, games, apps and sites. Entries are for information only and are not reviews or endorsements by eSafety. Before choosing to use any online service or platform it’s best to:

  • do your own research to understand the risks and benefits
  • check the age rating and requirements
  • consider privacy
  • check the permissions and other settings
  • check the in-app reporting options.

If you are a parent or carer who is deciding whether a child should be allowed to use an online service or platform, you can also:

  • consider your child's readiness for the types of content and experiences they might encounter
  • help them understand what to do if they need help
  • provide ongoing support and monitoring, for example through regular check-ins with your child
  • agree to some rules about use of each service or platform.

To find out more, you can read the App checklist for parents, as well as information about parental controls in social media, games and apps and mental wellbeing resources for families.