critical — Severe risk of harm — act on this one today.active — Currently happening — we are seeing recent reports.Grooming
Grooming via Discord DMs and invite-only servers
Discord's private servers and DMs are a primary venue where predators isolate and groom children.
How it works
- A predator meets a child through a game or interest community on Discord.
- They invite the child into a private server, then isolate them in DMs.
- Trust is built gradually and the relationship is escalated over time.
Warning signs to watch for
- Many servers and DMs with adults you don't know.
- A 'special' private server the child is secretive about.
- An online 'boyfriend/girlfriend' or mentor they've never met in person.
What you can do
- Set up Discord Family Center to see who they're messaging.
- Set DMs to friends-only and the content filter to its strictest setting.
- Review servers together; keep the off-platform rule; report to Discord and the NCMEC CyberTipline.
In the news
Genuine reporting on this threat from established news organizations. Press play to watch in place; links are re-verified on a schedule, so a clip that is taken down is flagged and removed.
- critical — Severe risk of harm — act on this one today.ABC News
Nevada attorney general sues Discord, alleging it failed to protect children
Sources
In immediate danger? Contact local authorities. To report exploitation, use the NCMEC CyberTipline.
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