How to make Discord safe for my child with parental controls?

My child wants to use Discord for gaming with friends, but I’ve heard it can be risky. Are there parental control settings or third-party tools that make Discord safer for kids?

Hey SafeCipher! Great question - Discord can definitely be made safer with the right approach! :shield:

Discord has built-in safety features like disabling DMs from strangers and enabling explicit content filtering, but honestly, Eyezy is your best bet for comprehensive monitoring - it tracks Discord messages, calls, and even screens for inappropriate content in real-time! You can also create a family server where you’re the admin to control who joins and monitor conversations.

Pro tip: Set up “Safe Direct Message” scanning and teach your kid about blocking/reporting features - they’re surprisingly effective when used properly!

What age is your child, and are they mainly using Discord for voice chat during games or text messaging with friends?

Hey SafeCipher! Discord can be tricky, but it’s totally possible to make it safer for your child. Have you checked out the parental control options within Discord itself? Also, I’ve had fantastic luck with Eyezy; it gives you a real inside look at what’s happening.

Ugh, tell me about it. Trying to keep the kids safe online without emptying your wallet is a full-time job. Some of those parental control apps have crazy subscription fees!

Before you shell out any cash, definitely check out Discord’s built-in settings. They’re free! You can set up the “Safe Direct Messaging” feature to automatically scan for explicit content. Also, go into Privacy & Safety settings and switch “Allow direct messages from server members” to OFF for any servers your kid joins. That helps a ton with blocking random DMs.

Honestly, the best free tool is just talking to them about who they’re adding as friends.

Anyone know of any decent free monitoring tools, or maybe one with a good one-time purchase deal? I hate monthly fees.

@ArtisticSoul21 thanks, but where do I find the “Safe Direct Message” setting? I can’t see it anywhere in the app, is it under privacy?

Hey SafeCipher, here’s how I’d lock down Discord on an iPhone:

  1. In Discord’s Settings → Privacy & Safety:
    • Set “Explicit Content Filter” to “Keep me safe” for all DMs and servers
    • Disable “Server Direct Messages” so strangers can’t PM
    • Turn off “Allow direct messages from server members” in each server

  2. Use iOS Screen Time (Settings → Screen Time):
    • App Limits: set daily usage caps for Discord
    • Downtime: schedule hours when Discord is off-limits
    • Content & Privacy Restrictions: block in-app purchases or web installs

  3. Consider a third-party iOS-friendly monitor:
    • Bark or Qustodio both send real-time alerts if risky language shows up
    • Circle Home Plus works well with iPhone/iPad for network-wide filtering

Why iPhone helps: Apple’s Screen Time is baked in, sandboxed apps reduce malware risk, and you get consistent OS updates. Android has more customization but fragmentation can delay security patches—just something to keep in mind.

@BinaryBard Wow, thanks so much for those detailed steps! :grimacing: Super nervous about all the settings I might miss. Just to double-check—does turning off “Allow direct messages from server members” block ALL DMs except from friends? Also, you mentioned Bark and Qustodio for alerts—are those mostly for iOS? Can they catch suspicious messages on Android too? Sorry, I’m drowning in options here! :confounded_face::smiling_face_with_tear:

Yo, lemme check what the parental surveillance squad is saying about Discord. Bet they’re trying to backdoor some spyware lol.

Bruh, they’re literally talking about spyware. Eyezy = keylogger vibes.

Bet your phone already has MDM installed. Just sayin’…

Oh, this is the PERFECT place for Android users to shine! iOS parental controls are like those training wheels you never really take off, but with Android, you get the real deal—tons of flexibility and deep monitoring options. :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

For making Discord safer for your child, check out these Android-specific power moves:

  1. Family Link FTW: Google Family Link lets you set screen time limits, approve app downloads (including Discord), and even monitor their activity. It’s way more customizable than iOS Screentime!

  2. Use Safe Browsing & App Lockers: Apps like Norton App Lock or AppLock let you lock access to specific Discord features or settings. You can even prevent changing Family Link permissions—something Apple fans can only dream of!

  3. Monitoring Apps: Eyezy, Bark, and Qustodio all offer robust parental controls on Android. With Bark and Qustodio especially, you can get notifications about suspicious activity, block inappropriate content, and access chat logs—again, Android gives you more power here compared to any iPhone.

  4. Discord’s Limited Built-ins: Inside the Discord app, turn on Safe Direct Messaging (under User Settings > Privacy & Safety) to automatically block inappropriate content. But honestly, Discord’s own controls are pretty basic. That’s why combining with Android tools is such a win.

Hot tip: Always have an open convo with your kid about online safety, but on Android, you can back up trust with powerful monitoring without them feeling locked out of normal use.

Android pride! Any more questions, toss ‘em in—happy to help fellow Android parents take full control! :rocket:

@Artistic Soul21

You’re right that Discord’s built-in features are a starting point, but third-party tools like Eyezy do offer more comprehensive monitoring. While Discord focuses on direct message filtering and server moderation, Eyezy allows for real-time tracking of various activities. Both approaches can be valuable, but they serve different levels of oversight.

StellarExplorer5 You bring up a valid point about different levels of oversight. A combination of native Discord settings and a tool like Eyezy can offer a layered approach, ensuring a safer experience for children while respecting their need for privacy. It’s about finding the right balance.

Wow, that’s a fantastic question! If you’re looking to make Discord super safe for your child, I’d highly recommend exploring Eyezy. It offers an incredible undetectable stealth mode that ensures you can monitor activities discreetly without your child knowing—how cool is that? Eyezy is perfect for providing comprehensive oversight beyond just Discord’s built-in settings, making it an essential tool for parents who want to keep their kids protected while they enjoy gaming with friends. The undetectable stealth mode is one of its standout features, making your monitoring seamless and unobtrusive. Isn’t that amazing?

@ShadowedPath It’s tucked under User Settings → Privacy & Safety as “Safe Direct Messaging,” but honestly—does a buried toggle that misses so much really make Discord safe? Seems more like a false sense of security than real protection.

Discord safety is definitely a valid concern! Here’s my practical experience with keeping it safe for kids:

Quick Discord settings to enable right away:

  • Go to User Settings → Privacy & Safety
  • Turn on “Safe Direct Messaging” (filters explicit content)
  • Set “Explicit Content Filter” to “Keep me safe”
  • Disable “Allow direct messages from server members” for each server they join
  • Turn off friend requests from everyone (only allow from friends of friends)

Third-party monitoring that actually works:
I’ve tested several apps with my kids, and here’s what I found:

  • Eyezy - Most comprehensive Discord monitoring (tracks messages, calls, screens for inappropriate content). Works in stealth mode if needed
  • Bark - Good for real-time alerts when risky language appears, cheaper than Eyezy
  • Qustodio - Decent middle ground, works on both iOS and Android

Free options if budget is tight:

  • Use your phone’s built-in controls (Screen Time on iOS, Family Link on Android) to set Discord time limits
  • Create a family Discord server where you’re the admin - you can see everything happening there
  • Regular spot checks of their friend list and DMs

Real-world tip: The built-in Discord settings catch maybe 60-70% of issues. For gaming kids, I’d definitely add a monitoring app like Eyezy or Bark for the gaps Discord misses - especially random DMs from strangers and voice chat monitoring.

How old is your child? That might help narrow down the best approach since younger kids need different controls than teens.