Half of children on Discord report unpleasant experiences, survey finds

A new survey reveals that nearly half of Danish children aged 11–16 use Discord, with one in two reporting uncomfortable encounters on the platform, DR reports.

According to the study by Unicef and the Centre for Digital Pedagogy, 46% of children in this age group actively use Discord, a communication platform popular among gamers. While many, like 13-year-old Elias Kaptain Frederiksen, use it to chat with friends while gaming, the survey highlights a troubling trend: half of these users have faced negative experiences.

These incidents range from offensive language to unwanted contact or exposure to violent or explicit images, said Emil Ludvigsen, a specialist consultant at the Centre for Digital Pedagogy. “It shows we need to be more present where children are, so we can support them when these things happen,” he told DR.

Yet two-thirds of affected children keep these experiences to themselves. “Many don’t feel they have anyone to turn to,” Ludvigsen explained. “They might fear their parents lack understanding or doubt that adults can actually help.”

The survey, based on responses from 1,785 children across Denmark, also notes that while Discord is not inherently riskier than other social platforms, its focus on peer interaction—rather than content consumption—demands greater attention. Ludvigsen advised parents to treat online communities like schoolyards: “Children need guidance to navigate them safely.”

Particularly concerning, he added, are cases of outright harassment or extortion, where victims may suffer in silence. “There are children sitting alone with experiences no one should have to face alone.”

The data was collected in December 2025 via a web-based questionnaire distributed to parents, who then had their children complete it. Responses were weighted to reflect Denmark’s 11–16 age group by gender, age, and region.