
Kids old enough to have a Discord account should be able to manage the interface but, more importantly, they should have learned about online safety. Discord does not come with any content so its age-appropriateness beyond this limit is determined by its ease of use and the risks of communicating online with other people - known and unknown. There is an age limit of 13 years old set by the service and the Discord sign-up page makes it clear that children under the age of 13 should not use it or create an account. More generally, Discord can introduce children to working remotely and collaborating on projects when a physical presence is not possible. It can be used to support learning in any subject. Within the area they control (their server), teachers have access to useful tools that can keep the discussions safe, on topic, and useful.ĭiscord is a communication tool. Teachers can use this facility to host an online lesson.ĭiscord is very easy and convenient to use. Voice channels allow for multi-user verbal chat and users can also share their screens to collaborate on projects. Communication on Discord text channels is, as you'd expect, by text. Channels and their focus are defined at the choice of the person who creates the server.Ĭhannels are either text or voice-based. More generally, it could focus on homework or class administration.

A channel could concentrate on a single topic or lesson. Discord channels are ways of ensuring discussions are focused.

Within the server are channels and, in education, these can be seen as the different ways classrooms are used, such as student workspaces, for lessons, and for teacher/student administration. In education, we can use an analogy where the Discord server is the online equivalent of a teacher's classroom and fully under their control. In education, a server would be restricted only to those people whom the teacher approves but other servers can be much less restrictive. Servers cannot be searched for within the app and so users must be invited to them, or find their online address from elsewhere. This Discord app review will look at how its features can be used and how safe Discord is for kids.Įach community on Discord is called a server. Its appeal to those who did not see themselves as computer gamers led to this slogan being changed to "Chat for Communities and Friends" and Discord is now used for more general purposes, including education. Discord is an instant messaging and social network app that lets users communicate with text, images, audio, and video.ĭiscord was once associated mostly with computer gamers and its slogan was "Chat for Gamers".
