unhackchildhood.com/topics/gaming-discord · Reviewed September 24, 2026
DO THIS FIRST
Take back some control.
- 01
Limit direct messages and friend requests to people the player actually knows.
- 02
Use a nickname that does not reveal a full name, school, location, birth year, or social handle.
- 03
Block and report sexual requests, threats, hate, repeated harassment, scams, and grooming behavior.
- 04
Keep purchases behind a password or adult approval and turn on transaction alerts.
- 05
Leave a server or party when someone pressures you to move to a private chat or keep secrets from adults.
FOR STUDENTS
No shame. Just the next move.
- A person being friendly for weeks does not prove who they are. Trust behavior, boundaries, and verification—not time alone.
- Anyone who demands secrecy, sexual content, money, or another app is creating danger, not friendship.
- Ask for help if a threat follows you across accounts or into real life.
FOR PARENTS
Contain first. Debrief later.
- Play or watch first. It is easier to set useful boundaries when you understand the game’s chat, purchases, and social features.
- Keep voice chat audible in shared spaces for younger children and revisit settings as maturity changes.
- Focus on behavior and access—not only hours—when evaluating a game or community.
TRUSTED NEXT STOPS
Official help and reporting.
NetSmartz ↗Online-safety education and conversation starters from NCMEC.FTC fraud reporting ↗Report scams involving purchases, payments, or account theft.
Reviewed September 24, 2026. External guidance changes; confirm time-sensitive steps on the linked official site.
SET IT UP