Discord is stepping up its Family Center with new tools for parents and guardians. Launched in 2023, the Family Center aims to help adults understand how their teens use Discord and engage more actively in their online experiences.
With the latest updates, parents can now control the visibility of sensitive media. They can choose to blur, block, or leave content unfiltered. Options to manage friend requests and direct messages (DMs) have also expanded. Now, parents can decide if these queries can come from all users, server members, or just friends of friends. Additionally, there’s a set of data privacy features that provide more insight into teens’ activities.
Guardians can see recent purchases made on the platform, track total voice chat minutes from the past week, and view a list of their teen’s most frequently messaged users and servers. This gives parents a clearer picture of their teen’s interactions without compromising their privacy. Communication is key; teens can notify their guardians when they submit a request, keeping everything transparent.
However, it’s important to note that parents won’t have access to the actual content of the messages being sent. As Discord states, “Guardians shouldn’t have to be a Discord expert to support their teen.” The goal is to provide help while respecting teens’ voices in shaping their digital spaces.
Recent research highlights the growing concerns about online safety among parents. A survey found that 70% of parents worry about the types of content their children encounter online. In light of this, Discord is focusing on balancing safety and teen independence. They are building features informed by extensive research with input from teens, ensuring their safety is a priority without infringing on their freedom.
In other news, Discord recently reported a data breach that affected 70,000 users through a third-party customer service provider. This incident raised alarms, reminding everyone about the importance of data security in online platforms, especially for vulnerable users like teens.
For more information on Discord’s safety measures, visit their official [safety page](https://discord.com/safety/family-center-is-getting-an-update). Exploring such resources can provide parents with the support and knowledge they need to navigate this digital landscape alongside their children.
