Can You Get Banned from Discord for Being Under 13?

The short answer is yes, you can get banned from Discord if you are found to be under the minimum age limit of 13 years old. But don‘t panic yet – in most cases underage users can appeal bans or use parent-managed accounts safely with Discord‘s consent systems.

Let‘s do a deep dive on Discord‘s age policies, ban practices, child safety tools, and expert advice so you can make informed decisions.

An Introduction to Discord Bans

First, how exactly do bans work on the platform? Discord grants its moderators and admin teams ban capabilities to restrict specific users from servers or Discord entirely based on terms of service violations.

Server bans prohibit access to an individual server, while account/global bans fully lock users out of their Discord profile and all servers. Both ban types can range from temporary to indefinite.

Below is a comparative table detailing various Discord ban types, reasons, and appeal options:

Now let‘s analyze Discord‘s stances and ban practices surrounding underage usage specifically.

Discord‘s Age Limit and Penalties

Discord‘s terms of service officially require users to be at least 13+ years of age to create an account or access the platform.

If users under the minimum age of 13 are discovered and reported, Discord will lock the associated account until valid proof of age can be provided – usually via official documentation. Failing to verify your age can result in an indefinite or permanent ban.

Exact Under 13 Ban Statistics Are Not Public…But It Happens

Discord has remained vague regarding exact ban statistics surrounding underage account holders under 13 years old.

However, through scouring various internet forums and Discord community spaces, user reports of under-13 bans are indeed abundant – ranging from kids voluntarily admitting they are underage to users tricking others into revealing their age for reporting.

While concrete numbers are elusive, these anecdotal reports across YouTube, Reddit, Twitter, and Discord itself confirm bans do occur commonly in cases of those below the minimum age threshold.

Using Discord Under 13 with Parental Supervision

According to Discord’s support site, users under the age of 13 are permitted access when there is explicit parental approval and oversight in a parent-managed account.

This mainly involves parents:

1. Obtaining full access to monitor chats in shared family servers
2. Retaining control of account credentials
3. Assuming responsibility for a child‘s behavior on the platform

With vigilant parental supervision, Discord can be used safely and appropriately for kids under 13 years old without encountering ban risks.

Why Discord Poses Safety Risks for Kids

However, handing unrestrained access to Discord to children presents troubling issues parents must seriously weigh before provisioning accounts:

Exposure to Mature Themes

• Discord houses over 19 million active communities with all manner of topics – including adult, violent, hateful, and dangerous spaces inappropriate for kids

Cyberbullying and Harassment

• 1 in 3 American kids report being victims of cyberbullying
• Discord’s chat channels provide anonymous communication channels for bullying

Grooming by Online Predators

• 1 in 7 youth receive an online sexual solicitation where a predator tries forming a relationship to exploit a minor.
• Discord’s direct messaging facilitates discrete grooming interactions

Without parental watchfulness, the freeform nature of Discord communities poses many risks to children – especially those under 13 lacking judgement.

What to Do If You or Your Child Get Banned From Discord

If you do receive an underage usage ban for yourself or your child, take the following recourses:

Appeal Directly to Discord

Craft an appeal email to dis.gd/request explaining the misunderstanding was unintentional due to age and provide your birthdate to unlock the account. Most first-time offenses lead to temporary bans, which can be reversed on appeal.

Use New Devices or Connections

Using new devices, browsers, or IP addresses with freshly created accounts may bypass some ban restrictions. But subsequently getting re-banned for ban evasion could lead to harsher penalties.

Consult with Child Safety Groups

If appeals fail and you require resources on your child’s online safety, groups like Common Sense Media, Protect Young Eyes, and Bark can advise steps to nurture your kid’s digital wellbeing.

While bans seem punitive, Discord implements them to uphold both its policies and support constructive community engagement. Petitioning with honesty and understanding goes a long way to undo mistaken enforcements.

Final Advice for Parents of Young Discord Users

To close, I want to provide proactive guidance to guardians with kids under 13 who still seek to use Discord safely:

• Set up a parent-managed account: Retain access to directly monitor all communications.
• Restrict chat partners: Only approve real-life friends under parent guidance too.
• Enable Restricted Mode: Limit exposure to adult content in servers and chats
• Moderate screen time: No more than 1-2 hours daily to balance gaming, socializing and responsibilities.
• Communicate expectations: Discuss online ethics and consequences for poor virtual behaviors.

While Discord does impart risk, informed parental participation allows kids to reap benefits of gaming community bonding. I hope these tips and insights help secure your child’s experiences!