Almost everyone uses social media to connect with friends and to catch up on the latest news and entertainment. For many teens, their phones are an essential part of their being. In fact, 95% of teens between 13 and 17 years old report using a social media platform, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Social media can be a tool to help raise awareness about important issues. It can serve as a space to discuss mental health experiences with others and reduce the stigma associated with them. Lastly, it can help connect those who are physically far from each other.
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The US Surgeon General issued a new advisory about the effects of social media use on youth mental health in May 2023.
The advisory discusses the negative effects of social media including how it can contribute to social comparison, disordered eating behaviors, body dissatisfaction, and low self-esteem. Research has also shown that social media use is associated with depression, anxiety, poor sleep duration, and sleep issues among youths.
Given this information, CafeMom asked Liz Hegarty, Discord's global teen safety policy manager, about how its social platform is working to keep teens safe.
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What is Discord?
Discord is a chat app that uses voice, text, and video and allows its users to communicate with others in private or in servers (communities).
"Whether through text, voice, or video chat, Discord creates unique opportunities for connection, with over 150 million monthly active users currently on the platform connecting over shared interests, including music, video games, television, film, and so much more," Hegarty tells CafeMom.
Why is Discord popular among teens?
Hegarty shares that Discord is popular among young people because anyone older than 13 can come to the platform to hang out, chat, and have fun with friends online. It gives them a friendly place to discuss their interests such as art projects, family trips, homework, and shared hobbies with their friends and peers.
In addition, today's younger generation craves authentic ways to show up as themselves online.
"As a communications platform that does not generate revenue through ads or benefit from algorithmic feeds, we've created something special for our users: a truly customizable experience that allows deeper, more meaningful connections over shared interests," Hegarty explains.
Discord recently conducted a study in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. Its results showed that Gen Zers reported that online communications platforms can play a positive role in their life by providing the following:
- A welcome source of entertainment
- A nice distraction from life's responsibilities
- A place to feel connected
"So whether they're engaging with on-platform Activities like Watch Together, Putt Party, and Jamspace, playing video games with their friends, or joining a study group, Discord has become Gen Z's go-to platform," Hegarty adds.
What is Discord doing to promote healthy lifestyles and digital well-being among its young users?
Discord's mental health study showed that over the last couple of years, Gen Z has struggled with feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, isolation, and anxiety.
Hegarty tells us that Discord is continually looking for ways and resources to support its users who are experiencing mental health challenges. One of the ways it has been doing this is by partnering with Crisis Text Line, Digital Wellness Lab and the National PTA so teens have a safe space to discuss their interests and connect with others.
Discord has many safety features that parents and teens need to know about to promote digital well-being.
One of the safety features that Hegarty highlights is the recent launch of Family Center, a tool the company built to help parents, guardians, and caregivers better understand how their teens use Discord.
"Creating a sense of understanding, and support, Family Center provides a snapshot of their teens' activity on Discord, including recently added friends; servers joined and participated in; and users messaged or called within direct or group chats. We preserve teens' autonomy by requiring their consent to parental controls and allowing them to opt out at any time," Hegarty explains.
Tips to ensure you keep your child safe on Discord:
- Educate children about online safety and responsible internet use.
- Encourage the use of strong passwords and two-factor authentication.
- Monitor your child's server memberships and online interactions.
- Familiarize yourself with Discord's privacy and safety settings and get to know the Discord's Safety Center.
- Report and block any abusive or inappropriate content or users.
- Keep communication lines open with your children, so they feel comfortable discussing any issues they encounter on Discord or other online platforms.
