Category: Parental Controls

Discord has been gaining popularity as one of the most popular free audio, video, calling, and chatting services.  It initially gained popularity as a gaming and chat platform, but is now trying to reinvent itself as a place where like-minded people can socialize and discuss. Discord usage for business has even been increasing.

Parents often ask this relevant question about Discord since teens are the app’s intended audience. If your child uses Discord, should you be worried? How can you protect your kids from cyberbullying and harassment on Discord?

Even though Discord can be used safely with adequate precautions, it still comes with risks, just like every other open-chat program.

Read this article to get all the necessary information about Discord and to know Is Discord safe for kids?

What Is Discord?

Discord is a free application for PC and mobile that allows people to chat via text, voice, or video.

By combining Skype’s internet call features with Reddit-like discussion boards, it has diversified from a forum for gamers only to one for communities with a wide variety of interests, including anime, TV series, music, and more. Also, it can be used to chat with friends in a group.

Discord, which was founded in 2015, is a platform that brings individuals together with similar likes and interests. Video game players use it to communicate and develop a sense of community outside of the games themselves.

Over the years, it has expanded into an entire social network with over 140 million active monthly users. Gamers are no longer their only users.

Working of Discord

It is essential to have a clear understanding of the word ‘server’ to grasp how Discord works. Servers are like groups of users that can discuss a topic or game together, and users can also create a server to play with friends and other players.

Users can make servers public or private, depending on their choice. If the users choose to make the server public, everyone can join the server. And if the user makes the server private, only people with links can join. Whenever users invite their friends to the private server, they will get a link to join the server.

You can also divide existing servers into voice and text channels for specific discussion topics. The server owner can also set their own rules regarding what content to allow and how many people they can join their server.

Is Discord Safe?

Discord can be used safely with the correct privacy settings and monitoring. Nevertheless, open chat on sites and apps always poses a risk. Use Discord safely by accepting only friend requests from people you already know and joining private servers.

There have been instances when predators have used Discord’s public servers to send direct messages to children, although it’s rare. Despite the fact that server moderators are typically quick to intervene, kids and parents should learn how to spot creeps and online predators.

Discord is an open-chat platform, and like every other open-chat platform, it is also unveiled to different cyber threats if necessary precautions are not taken. Discord users are at risk of data breaches and undesired content.

The safety of Discord depends upon the intensity of security measures adopted by users. The only way to ensure the safety of users on Discord is to adopt safe practices while using this application.

Risks of Using Discord

Discord can be a beneficial app, but it is also dangerous and harmful for kids if necessary precautions are not taken while using this app. Discord is an open-chat platform, and like every other open-chat platform, it is also unveiled to different cyber threats if necessary precautions are not taken.

Discord comes with a number of risks. A few of them are mentioned below:

●     Discord makes Cyberbullying easier

Discord is an open-chat platform that allows users to chat with their friends, families, and strangers. It is more prevalent among teens and kids as a social network for gaming chatting, and streaming.

However, Kids and teens are also using this app for bullying. Discord provides a feature in which audio and video streams disappear, making it easier for bullies to bully others without leaving any evidence on Discord.

●     Easy for predators to contact children using Discord

Discord allows its users to meet and chat with strangers, and like other open-chat platforms, people on Discord can also lie about their identity or who they are? Predators can manipulate and stalk your kids via Discord.

Predators can send inappropriate content, images, videos, audios, etc., to your kids, or they can blackmail your kids. They can even groom your kids to perform some unbefitting tasks, which can be harmful to your kids.

●     Difficult to Moderate

Like many others, open-chat and private communication app discord is dangerous as it is challenging to control real-time communication. Audio and video streams disappear in Discord.

An individual server carries out the content moderation process. Hence the groups have servers of different standards, and some of the servers are administered better than others.

Users can report issues to Discord directly, but this is a time-consuming process, and your child may gain access to or be exposed to improper content.

●     Kids may get access to pornography and Exploitation

Discord has lots of private groups, including groups of criminal activity, child pornography, etc. These groups can trap your kids and expose these types of adult content to your kids.

However, Discord is trying to solve this problem by breaking down pornography and criminal activities groups.  It is still a better alternative than Mastodon, which is offers more freedom without restrictions.

What’s Good About Discord?

Despite the risks of Discord, it has some positive aspects. There are a lot of chat apps out there, but Discord stands out because of its simple UI. It doesn’t take up too much space on the device and allows youngsters to communicate with their real-life pals while playing a virtual game.

Discord has been a social savior for many teenagers and kids during the pandemic. They use Discord to stream movies and games with friends to kill time and get over boredom.

Another advantage is secrecy. Teenagers can use Discord to avoid public conversation in games where strangers disparage others or share inappropriate stuff.

Discord’s concentration on interest groups also helps kids connect with others who share their passions without sifting through unnecessary postings or ads they might see on other social media platforms.

The Bottom Line

If your kid can safely use Discord, it can be a way to interact with their real-life pals via gaming when they can’t be together in person. They might be able to find a group interested in discussing their common interests.

On the other hand, Discord will always be a riskier software to use due to the lack of parental controls. Consider whether the benefits of Discord outweigh the risks. If you decide to let your children use this app, make sure they have an internal filter installed to keep them safe while they’re online.

The use of a parental control app and is our preferred recommendation for parents seeking complete protection for children on their phones and tablets.  It provides monitoring for both IOS Apple and Android devices.  It goes to work immediately to filter and block access to bad websites, as well as monitor social media.

Much more than a phone location tracker, the right parental control app download provides a variety of features to monitor and restrict internet usage and control the use of apps being downloaded. Parents can easily customize settings according to each family member’s age.

With parental controls installed on mobile devices (including iPads) parents will be notified of potential harm to their child online  24/7:  Download Here

For parental control solutions for desktop computers and laptops (as well as mobile devices) explore parental control software

The Need for Parental Controls

Today, parents have a lot of keep track of online.  Kids are active on gaming platforms, social media, multiple search engines, YouTube and chat rooms many parents don’t know about.   On the other side of a child’s online access are potentially secret friends, cyberbullies, viruses, malware, ransomware and child predators.

Thankfully, the app does the work for parents so that they don’t have to relentlessly monitor their child’s online activity 24/7.  It works right away to filter and block access to bad websites.  Still, within the parental control dashboard parents have complete control to customize settings according to each family member’s age.

The Power of Parental Control Apps

Gone of the days of a single computer in the family room where kids go online under the watchful eyes of mom and dad after dinner.  Couples and single parents still needed to be extra invigilate but control was still achievable. Then came mobiles phones that put the world wide web in everyone’s pocket.

These days, the internet is readily available to young finger tips on bedroom computers, lap tops, tablets and smart phones. Within the last decade social media has only multiplied the challenges of what kids see and hear online, including exposure to toxic friendships and the risk of cyberbullying.

Schools can set up internet controls and blocking on their servers but for homes it’s not possible to implement a blanket approach to online safety without an app installations.  For home use, it is relatively simple to install parental controls on multiple devices for instant protection against explicit web content.

Parental Control Features:

From it’s creation, phone monitoring apps have evolved to handle all of today’s obstacles to safety. It continues to be updated to respond to new technology and trends that kids gravitate to.  Unless automatic monitoring and restrictions are in place, these hot spots expose young children and teens to new and unwanted content before most parents even know about them.

The internet offers a wealth of education and opportunity for kids, but many parents worry about the dangerous side of the online world—namely, the opportunity for their kids to stumble across inappropriate content or unsafe websites.

Or a child may unknowingly reveal private information to a stranger. This is where a few all in one parental monitoring apps come in handy. Some of these apps are free, while others employ more parental controls in an app as well as on desktop.

These apps were designed with parents’ concerns in mind to help you keep your kids safe online.

1. Qustodio

Qustodio provides parental controls on all devices, not just phones and tablets. It is the all-in-one parental control app and software with a focus on digital well being, including screen addiction prevention via the setting of time limits and ensuring a better sleep schedule.  Account sign up is free.  In addition to filtering access to online content and monitoring activity on any device, this program allows parents to track calls and SMS for Android devices.   On both iPhones, Androids and tablets, you can locate family members at any time as long as they have their iPhone or Android device. There is also an SOS feature, which enables your kids to instantly notify you of trouble.  

Download for Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Android, iPhone/iPad, Kindle

2. FamilyTime

This is the app blocker that blocks all those other distracting apps that steal your family time.  It’s parental control at your finger tips that filters the internet, manages content and usage on iPhones, Andriods and tablets. You can set the time limits you want for bedtime usage and during homework time.  Additional features include monitoring your child’s cell phone texts, their contacts, phone logs, all while knowing their location.  In addition to internet browsing restrictions for home use, this app has developed robust controls for schools to ensure kids are protected on all devices in their classrooms.

Download FamilyTime parental controls for Andriod and iOS at home

School administrators, download parental controls for schools

3. Covenant Eyes

This app offers basic monitoring of your kids’ smartphone activity with the added feature of having accountabilities partners to help you stay away from pornographic websites. You can also view your family’s account using the Covenant Eyes parent dashboard and set levels of freedom according to age and times of day.  It idea is that if kids know you are going to get an alert if they visit a bad website, it will give them the freedom to explore online and learn how to make good decisions.  Covenant Eyes has been providing parental controls since before apps where even a thing and today you can download it according to your family needs.

Create your Covenant Eyes account for iOS devices or Android

4. Parentaler

Parentaler is the single download that can handle parental monitoring and filtering of the web for both Apple and Android mobile devices.  You can block websites and specific apps, set usage time limits for each child, and customize age-appropriate settings according to each child’s level of maturity. Of course, all porn is blocked outright, regardless of age.  The geo-fence setting ensures you are notified if one of your kids is not where they should be.  And at any time, you can check their location to see where they are when on route from point A to point B.  Parentaler filters and monitor the web, as well as online social media connections, to give parents peace of mind around the clock.

Download for Android and iPhone

5. KidzSearch Internet Filtering

Sometimes something as simple or harmless as a misspelling can result in a search result gone afoul. Instead of letting your kid use Google.com for searches, KidzSearch automatically filters Google to remove inappropriate content and unsafe websites. It also blocks misspellings of words that could lead a child to a bad website. With this app, your kids can use the internet as they typically would, and the parental filter helps keep them safe. This is the same filtering being used on our website Safe Search Kids, only through an app for mobile devices. Whether on our site or through the app, use of this internet filtering service is free.

Download the KidzSearch App for iOS devices or Android devices

KidzSearch also available on Kindle Fire / Amazon

6. FamiGuard Android Monitoring

This app was designed with a focus on keeping kids safe on Android phones.  It has everything you need to monitor your kids’ Android smartphone activity, viewing phone files, recording and filtering phone calls, to monitoring over 30 apps including WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram, SMS, and more. It’s easy to use and there’s no need to root the target device.  Block bad websites, set time limits and no remotely monitor the current and past location of any family member without detection.  

Download the Parental Control App for Andoird

7. Kaspersky Safe Kids

This app has everything you need to monitor your kids’ smartphone activity, from blocking access to adult content and suspicious search results, to monitoring app usage and setting device screen time limits and GSP location tracking.  Enjoy peace of mind thanks to award-winning parental controls that provide protection for kids both online and offline. The Kaspersky Safe Kids also offers tips from psychologists on how to teach kids about the dangers present online and how to take proper precautions.

Download the Kaspersky Safe Kids app for iOS and Android devices

With a few parental control monitoring apps on your phone, you can always oversee your kids’ online activity. And remember, for these apps to work, you and your kids should have reliable internet access on your phones.

Setting up a hotspot will keep your child connected so you can use these apps and monitor their whereabouts and online searches any time you need.

Consider running a speed test as you’ll want to make sure you get at least 10 Mbps from your internet connection (more if you use a lot of devices in your home).

Once your apps are installed, you can feel more at ease with your kids’ online activity.

Victoria Schmid enjoys writing about technology for the “everyday” person. She is a specialist in online business marketing and consumer technology. She has a background in broadcast journalism.

Technology has brought out both the good and bad in society. We can, however, deploy measures to curb the harmful part. As adults, we are afraid of malware attacking our iPhones. For our kids, it’s another story altogether.

We can’t always control what may lurks around the corner with just one simple click on a seemingly safe website. Others may be following the advice of their friends who just told them about a cool website or page. As a parent, you can equip you computers and smart phones with tools that block access to bad parts of the internet.

To prevent our kids from viewing inappropriate content, or talking to strangers, we need parental control applications.  Here are some resources you can research and use to control your kid’s iPhone activities.

1. Qustodio

Qustodio is your all-in-one app download for multiple devices, including Windows computers and Macs that need a software installation. It provides complete parental controls for any device you may have in your home with an option for schools as well. You can also access your parental dashboard easily from any devices you are personally using. Qustodio builds healthy digital habits to help prevent screen addiction. This is done by setting usage limits that can be adjusted individually for any family member.

Features include: Filtering out websites you don’t want your kids to visit. Grant access to only specific websites. Monitor all online activity on websites and apps on any device. Blocking games and potentially harmful apps. Ensure kids are at home when they should be or locate any family member when they are at school, on the playground or at a friends house. You’ll also receive reports and alerts of suspicious activity. To get started you can create a parental control account for free.

A bonus for Android devices is the ability to track phone calls and SMS. For all phones, tablets and computers multi-device features include smart web filters that are always active, as well as advanced social media monitoring. The SOS feature enables kids to instantly alert parents of trouble where ever they may be.

Download for Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Android, iPhone/iPad, Kindle

2: FamilyTime (At Home and for Schools)

Whether your kids use many ways to interact with their friends, or they only access a few favorite apps, FamilyTime is easy to use for parents managing multiple devices in their home.  Text, calls, social media apps, and even a child’s contacts are easily accessible. This helps parents be proactive about potential problems with friends, including cyberbullying.

You can activate SafeSearch on Google and other search engines, in addition to relying on a web filter that blocks harmful content. FamilyTime is also an advanced geo-fencing app alerting parents when their child leaves a particular zone that’s been set up. This can include school, the mall, the playground or a friends house.

The family locator shows a map of where all of your family members are at any given time.  Relatives, babysitters, and spouses who are taking care of your children can be given free access to the app’s monitoring and control features while you are way. 

The FamilyTime app also provides the ability to also provide parental controls to schools on a mass scale. From single classrooms, to an entire school, teachers and administrators can monitor, control, filter and manage usage of multiple student devices just like parents do at home.   

3. Covenant Eyes Parental Controls and Accountability

Covenant Eyes is a parental control app and software for iPhone that is marketed to faith based groups. It focuses on helping families and individuals who have a desire to resist a lifestyle of porn with a focus on faithfulness. The software company also provides resources and training to live a porn-free lifestyle for teens and adults alike. Apart from this, the software application looks and behaves like any other parental control program. It blocks and monitors content for kids and teens, with the added ability for adults to install it and set up one or more accountability partners.

To further clarify, Covenant Eyes allows parents to protect younger kids from harmful material online. As kids grow older, restrictions can be lowered but parents can still receive reports and monitor activity as family members learn online responsibility. For adults struggling with graphic content and online addictions, they can install the app on their iPhone or Android with full control. However, they sign up a friend as an accountability partner to receive reports if explicit websites are visited. This accountability model can be similarly used for teens who would set up their parents as accountability partners.

4. iSharing Location App

iSharing is a top rated location sharing app for families, friends and anyone in a relationship who wishes to stay with each other.  It also enables users to track a cell phone for free while using the location sharing features.  Knowing where everyone in the family is at any given time is easy with a real-time GPS phone locator.

This location sharing app is also about sharing life with those you love, not just ensuring their safety. The unique Street View feature allows you to see the accurate location of your loved one’s surroundings while chatting via text and even sharing photos, all without having to leave the app. 

Place Alert notifies you when those connected are ‘on the move’. Panic Alert tells you they need help at their location when they shake their phone.  iSharing also allows you to get location history for past movements and keep an eye on the driving habits of your teens.  And the sharing of life and location can happen even when they leave home for college or go on a trip as a young adult.

5. Screen Time Control

The Screen Time Parental Control app is another software that you can use to control your kids’ iPhone activities. It allows you to block the kids by stating the screen times. This app has small rewards to award your kids when they show good phone-use behavior. It offers a free version with limited controls with the option to upgrade to complete monitoring on iPhone and other devices.

Screen Time also helps in controlling other Apple devices such as the Kindle Fire and Alexa smart speakers. The good thing about this parental control monitoring for iPhone is that it will notify you when your kid tries to install anything. You can also see the most used apps and browsing history.

Every good software program or app that offers free parental controls should be judged on the effectiveness of search filtering, app and screen time management, alerts, reports and location tracking.

For parental controls that have been specifically created for Android devices, read about this Android parental control app.

Proactive Protection with Parental Controls

Before you give your son or daughter a phone (or yours), make sure it has one of these apps. That way, you will know everything they are doing while protecting them from harm online. Educate yourself on other ways to keep your kid’s safe, especially teen related issues that are not associated with a phone, whether at school or out with friends.

Kids are often more tech savvy than their parents when it comes to phone use. On the other hand, with the right parental control app for your family you can also stay ahead. You will also know when to limit or restrict the unwanted activities.

About The Author:  Aqib Ijaz is a Digital Marketer, Guest Post, and IT Professional. He loves to write on different topics. In free time, he likes to travel and explore the different parts of the world. You can follow him on eyesonsolution.