Is Your Child a Gamer? Here’s What You Need to Know About Discord
July 31, 2024
We are excited to announce our partnership with Fiber Gaming Network (FGN), a platform aimed at bringing families closer together through the power of gaming. This collaboration represents our commitment to enhancing your family’s entertainment experiences and fostering meaningful connections in the digital age.
Gaming has evolved beyond just a pastime; it’s now a way for families to bond, compete, and create lasting memories together. Much of the FGN community takes place on Discord, a go-to platform for gamers to connect with each other and share ideas. In this article we’ll explain what Discord is, and everything you as the parent need to know.
Discord Basics—and its Explosive Growth and Popularity
At its core, Discord is a messaging app accessible on smartphones or tablets (both iOS and Android), as well as on gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox. It’s also usable on laptops and computers, which PC gamers will appreciate.
Launched in May 2015, Discord quickly ballooned into the global gaming phenomenon it is today. And the statistics tell the story of Discord’s smashing success: in 2023, there were 200 million active users a month, with a staggering 560 million user accounts in total.
Discord is Built for Gamers—But Not Just for Gamers!
Originally designed specifically for gamers to communicate during their sessions and competitions, it is still primarily used for gaming broadcasting and discussion. Indeed, 90% of all Discord use is for gaming-related interaction.
That said, Discord is not limited to gaming. People use Discord to talk about sports, politics, and stock trades and finances. Many even share their own game-and-character-inspired digital art and designs. But for the most part, Discord remains a place for gamers to gather and connect online.
Discord’s Layout: Servers and Chat Rooms
Discord has a fairly simple layout, but it can be confusing to first-time users. Its home page, or Discovery page, presents several example servers designed around specific games—Rocket League, Minecraft, Roblox, Fortnite, and Super Smash Bros Ultimate, for example. These servers are the true heart and soul of Discord.
In a sense, Discord’s servers are basically chat rooms with many different channels inside them related to a particular game or interest or topic. Inside the servers, gamers (and other Discord users) can text or even voice chat. Each of these servers (and their many chat rooms) is like its own Discord ecosystem or subculture, complete with house rules, well-known (or even quasi-celebrity) players, unique lingo, and other curiosities.
Within the FGN Discord, there are specific tabs for rules, announcements, and support tickets. In addition to these tabs, the FGN team has curated specific channels based on the feedback received from gamers. There are community channels, which focus on hobbies and interests, and there are also channels that share exciting updates like social posts and any “Hall of Famers.” These channels also provide a space for gamers to chat about things like how their day might be going, or if there is a new game they’re excited about. It is a great way for kids to connect with each other in a safe and moderated environment.
Privacy and Safety in Discord
Monitoring Discord involves several key steps to ensure effective communication and moderation. The FGN team takes this very seriously, and is constantly working to make the Discord channel a safe and secure space. They employ designated moderators who oversee different channels, ensuring discussions remain on-topic and respectful. In addition to human moderators, they also utilize custom bots. Bots automate tasks like message filtering for profanity or spam. They also issue warnings, and even temporarily mute users who violate guidelines.
There are clear guidelines established and shared with members, outlining expected behavior and consequences for rule violations. The FGN team also issues regular reminders and updates to ensure everyone is aware and accountable.
As is the case with any online community, it is important for parents to be aware and play an active role in how their children are interacting on any internet platform. While the FGN team has put several measures in place to ensure the Discord community is a safe and secure environment, there are also some extra settings that parents can use to enhance their child’s privacy and security while enjoying Discord.
To implement these settings, simply navigate to User Settings and click on Privacy & Safety. From there, parents can select and implement the settings they prefer. For starters, you can limit your child’s automatically-shared “activity data” while they’re using Discord. This setting reduces the digital footprint your kid leaves (and that Discord collects) while communicating on the app. Parents can also turn off direct messages (DMs) from people their kids do not know, which limits DMs only to your child’s friends, another key safety feature Discord provides. The FGN team does not have access to view or monitor any private direct messages, so this is a great feature for parents who would like to forgo the option completely.
Join Fiber Gaming Network and Our Discord
We offer free FGN accounts to all gamers in the South Slope service area (ages 13+). To sign up, simply go to FiberGamingNetwork.com and select South Slope in the Dropdown. From there, you’ll be prompted to create your FGN account and connect your Discord to join the fun in the FGN Discord.
We’re honored to provide the fast, reliable fiber internet your family needs to enjoy all your favorite games—and a family-friendly, moderated environment with gaming events every single week in Fiber Gaming Network! Join us today!