Navigating Discord: Empowering students to play to their core on social media
Over the past few years, Discord, a social media and messaging platform primarily used by video gamers, has rapidly gained popularity. However, the app has also been a source of controversy several times due to harmful content on its platform. In March 2023, leaked Pentagon documents were said to have circulated on Discord before appearing on other sites, adding to the list of incidents in which Discord has played a key role.
Discord isn’t inherently a negative platform, though. Students can use the app in positive ways that reflect their core values and true character, and educators can guide students to identify those core values and encourage them to participate in activities on Discord and other social media apps that reflect their true character.
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Jason Citron, video game player and computer programmer, launched Discord in 2015 as a chat application that people could use to communicate while playing games. During the pandemic, it gained traction very quickly as students searched for ways to connect with their friends and join online communities while social distancing. By late 2021, Discord reached over 150 million active users each month and a $14.7 billion value by late 2021.
While Discord is a great place for video gamers to connect with like-minded people, it is also no stranger to controversies. In case you missed it, earlier this year, highly classified government documents that revealed top-secret reports on high-ranking political leaders and military reports were leaked on Discord.
Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old, leaked the Pentagon documents. According to court documents, Teixeria was the leader of a private Discord server called “Thug Shaker Central,” which had about 20 members who were mostly teenage boys interested in video games, guns, and the military. The documents were revealed in January but stayed within the private group until one user shared them with the larger public.
This leak reminds us of the power that social media holds in a world that is tech-fueled and social media-filled. Information spreads at a rapid pace, and by encouraging our students to play to our core online and offline, they can be better equipped to use social media and tech for good, rather than maliciously.
How is content moderated on Discord?
Discord has both public and private servers. Public servers are moderated with platform oversight, while private servers require an invitation to join and may lack moderation measures, making them susceptible to harmful content.
Although Discord claims to prioritize content moderation, it has faced criticism for allowing hate speech, harassment, threats, violent extremism, and misinformation on its platform.
TSI’s Take
When using social media platforms like Discord, it is important to empower students to play to their core while engaging in activities on these apps.
Here are a few ways that students can play to their core on Discord:
- Connect with friends: Discord can be a great way for students to stay connected with their friends, especially during times when they may not be able to see each other in person.
- Join interest-based communities: Discord has many communities focused on a wide range of interests, from gaming and music to art and books. Students can join these communities to connect with others who share their passions and learn new things.
- Share creative work: Students can share their creative work, like writing, art, or music, with others in online communities on Discord. They can get feedback and support from others who appreciate their work.
Want to learn more about how social media can be a positive tool for your students to communicate with others and foster healthy relationships? Check out how you can encourage students to use social media responsibly while promoting their well-being.
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The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in understanding student experiences and creator of #WinAtSocial, a gamified, online learning platform that equips students, educators, and families to navigate social experiences — online and offline — in healthy ways. Our unique, student-respected approach incorporates topics like social media, technology use, and current events that have a significant impact on student well-being. Lessons teach life skills for the modern day to inspire high-character decisions that support the health, happiness, and future success of students, while capturing data that provides insights to school leaders to inform school policy and communications, and enable high-impact teaching and a healthy learning environment. For schools, our turnkey technology allows for easy implementation and a comprehensive game plan to support the well-being of school communities. For schools, our turnkey technology allows for easy implementation and a comprehensive game plan to support the well-being of school communities.