Discord has become a ubiquitous platform for online communities, gaming groups, and even professional collaborations. While Discord fosters connection and communication, it can also, unfortunately, be a breeding ground for harmful content, harassment, and other violations of its Community Guidelines. Knowing how to report a Discord server is crucial for maintaining a safe and positive environment for everyone. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps of reporting a server effectively and efficiently, ensuring your concerns are addressed by Discord’s Trust & Safety team.
Why Report a Discord Server?
Reporting a Discord server is important for several reasons:
- Protecting Yourself and Others: Reporting harmful content can shield you and other users from harassment, hate speech, or other forms of abuse.
- Enforcing Community Guidelines: By reporting violations, you help Discord uphold its Community Guidelines and create a safer space for everyone.
- Combating Illegal Activities: Reporting servers involved in illegal activities like the sale of illegal substances or the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is crucial for protecting vulnerable individuals and upholding the law.
- Promoting a Positive Environment: A proactive approach to reporting violations contributes to a more welcoming and inclusive community for all users.
Understanding Discord’s Community Guidelines
Before reporting a server, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with Discord’s Community Guidelines. These guidelines outline the types of content and behavior that are prohibited on the platform. Key areas covered include:
- Hate Speech: Content that promotes hatred, discrimination, or violence based on protected characteristics like race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
- Harassment and Bullying: Repeated or severe actions intended to intimidate, threaten, or abuse another user.
- Illegal Activities: Content related to illegal activities, such as drug sales, the distribution of CSAM, or the promotion of violence.
- Graphic Violence: Content that depicts excessive or gratuitous violence.
- Spam and Scams: Unsolicited messages or content intended to deceive or defraud users.
- Self-Harm and Suicide: Content that promotes or encourages self-harm or suicide. Discord takes such issues very seriously and provides resources for users in need.
- Impersonation: Pretending to be another user or organization with the intent to deceive or harm others.
Familiarizing yourself with these guidelines will help you identify violations and report them accurately.
Gathering Evidence: A Crucial Step
Before you report a server, gathering evidence is critical. The more detailed and comprehensive your evidence, the more effectively Discord’s Trust & Safety team can investigate your report. Here’s what you should collect:
- Message IDs: Every message on Discord has a unique ID. This ID allows Discord to pinpoint the exact message in question, even if it has been deleted. To get a message ID, you need to enable Developer Mode in Discord’s settings.
- User IDs: Similar to message IDs, each user has a unique ID. This helps Discord identify the specific user responsible for the violation.
- Server ID: The unique identifier for the entire Discord server you’re reporting.
- Screenshots: Capture screenshots of the violating content, including messages, user profiles, and server channels. Screenshots provide visual evidence that can be easily reviewed.
- Timestamps: Note the date and time of the violating content. This helps Discord track the issue and understand the context.
- Contextual Information: Provide any relevant context surrounding the violation. For example, explain the background of a harassment incident or the purpose of a suspicious channel.
- Links: Include links to specific messages, channels, or user profiles that are relevant to your report.
Enabling Developer Mode
To obtain message IDs, user IDs, and server IDs, you must enable Developer Mode in Discord. Here’s how:
- Open Discord: Launch the Discord application on your computer or mobile device.
- Access User Settings: Click on the gear icon next to your username in the bottom-left corner of the screen. This will open your User Settings.
- Navigate to Advanced: In the User Settings menu, scroll down and click on “Advanced” under the “App Settings” section.
- Enable Developer Mode: Toggle the switch next to “Developer Mode” to the “on” position. The switch will turn green when enabled.
Getting Message IDs, User IDs, and Server IDs
Once Developer Mode is enabled, you can easily obtain message IDs, user IDs, and server IDs:
- Message ID: Right-click on the message you want to report and select “Copy ID.” The message ID will be copied to your clipboard.
- User ID: Right-click on the user’s profile picture or username and select “Copy ID.” The user ID will be copied to your clipboard.
- Server ID: Right-click on the server icon in the server list and select “Copy ID.” The server ID will be copied to your clipboard.
Reporting a Discord Server: Step-by-Step Instructions
Now that you have gathered your evidence, you can proceed with reporting the Discord server. There are two primary methods for reporting a server: through the Discord app and through the Discord website.
Method 1: Reporting Through the Discord App
- Access the Server: Open the Discord app and navigate to the server you want to report.
- Right-Click on the Server Icon: In the server list on the left side of the screen, right-click on the icon of the server you are reporting.
- Select “Report Server”: In the context menu that appears, select the “Report Server” option. If you do not see “Report Server” in the menu, you will have to report through the Discord website using the method outlined below.
- Fill Out the Report Form: A new window or tab will open, presenting you with a report form. This form will typically ask for the following information:
- Reason for Reporting: Select the most appropriate reason for reporting the server from the dropdown menu. Options may include “Harassment,” “Hate Speech,” “Illegal Activities,” “Spam,” or “Other.”
- Detailed Explanation: Provide a detailed explanation of the violation. Be specific and clear about what happened, who was involved, and why you believe it violates Discord’s Community Guidelines.
- Evidence: Upload any relevant screenshots, links, or other evidence you have collected. You can also paste message IDs, user IDs, and server IDs into the explanation field.
- Additional Information: Include any additional information that you believe is relevant to the report. This could include context, background information, or any other details that can help Discord understand the situation.
- Submit the Report: Once you have filled out the form completely and accurately, click the “Submit” button. Your report will be sent to Discord’s Trust & Safety team for review.
Method 2: Reporting Through the Discord Website
- Visit the Discord Trust & Safety Request Form: Open your web browser and go to Discord’s Trust & Safety request form. You can usually find this form by searching for “Discord Trust & Safety” on Google or by visiting the Discord support website.
- Select the Report Type: On the form, you will need to specify the type of report you are submitting. Choose the option that best describes the issue you are reporting, such as “Report a Server,” “Report a User,” or “Report a Message.” In this case, you will likely select “Report a Server”.
- Provide Your Contact Information: Enter your email address and Discord username. This allows Discord to contact you if they need more information about your report.
- Provide Server Information: Enter the name of the server you are reporting and the server ID. You can obtain the server ID as described earlier in this guide.
- Explain the Violation: Provide a detailed explanation of the violation. Be specific and clear about what happened, who was involved, and why you believe it violates Discord’s Community Guidelines.
- Provide Evidence: Upload any relevant screenshots, links, or other evidence you have collected. You can also paste message IDs, user IDs, and server IDs into the explanation field.
- Submit the Report: Once you have filled out the form completely and accurately, click the “Submit” button. Your report will be sent to Discord’s Trust & Safety team for review.
Tips for Writing an Effective Report
To ensure your report is effective and receives proper attention, follow these tips:
- Be Clear and Concise: Use clear and concise language to explain the violation. Avoid jargon or overly technical terms.
- Be Specific: Provide specific details about what happened, who was involved, and when it occurred. The more specific you are, the easier it will be for Discord to investigate.
- Be Objective: Focus on the facts of the situation and avoid making personal attacks or emotional statements.
- Provide Context: Explain the context surrounding the violation. This will help Discord understand the situation and make an informed decision.
- Highlight Key Evidence: Point out the most important pieces of evidence and explain why they are relevant to the report.
- Proofread Your Report: Before submitting your report, proofread it carefully for any errors in grammar or spelling.
What Happens After You Report a Server?
After you submit a report, Discord’s Trust & Safety team will review it. The amount of time it takes for them to investigate and take action can vary depending on the complexity of the issue and the volume of reports they are processing.
Discord will typically take the following steps:
- Review the Report: The Trust & Safety team will review your report and assess the evidence you have provided.
- Investigate the Server: They will investigate the server in question to determine whether it has violated Discord’s Community Guidelines. This may involve reviewing messages, user profiles, and server activity.
- Take Action: If they find that the server has violated the Community Guidelines, they will take appropriate action. This could include issuing a warning, removing content, banning users, or even shutting down the entire server.
- Notify the Reporter: In some cases, Discord may notify you of the outcome of your report. However, due to privacy concerns, they may not be able to provide detailed information about the actions they have taken.
Understanding the Limitations
It’s important to understand that Discord’s Trust & Safety team handles a large volume of reports, and they may not be able to take action on every single report. Additionally, there may be situations where the violation is not clear-cut, or where the evidence is insufficient to take action.
Even if Discord does not take action on your report, it is still important to report violations. Your report helps Discord identify and address potential problems on the platform. Multiple reports about the same server or user can also increase the likelihood that Discord will take action.
Preventing Future Violations
In addition to reporting violations, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself and others from harmful content on Discord:
- Adjust Your Privacy Settings: Configure your privacy settings to control who can add you as a friend, send you messages, or see your profile information.
- Block and Mute Users: If you are being harassed or targeted by another user, you can block or mute them. Blocking prevents them from contacting you, while muting prevents their messages from appearing in your chat.
- Leave the Server: If you are uncomfortable with the content or behavior in a server, you can leave the server.
- Be Mindful of What You Share: Be careful about the personal information you share on Discord. Avoid sharing sensitive information like your address, phone number, or financial details.
- Educate Others: Help educate other users about Discord’s Community Guidelines and the importance of reporting violations.
Alternatives to Reporting: Blocking and Leaving
While reporting is essential for addressing serious violations, there are other actions you can take for less severe issues. Blocking a user prevents them from sending you messages or seeing your activity. Leaving a server removes you from the community and prevents you from seeing its content.
Reporting DM Harassment
Harassment can also occur in direct messages (DMs). The process for reporting DM harassment is similar to reporting a server. Gather evidence of the harassment, including message IDs and screenshots, and submit a report to Discord’s Trust & Safety team through the website.
Conclusion
Reporting a Discord server is a vital step in maintaining a safe and positive online environment. By understanding Discord’s Community Guidelines, gathering evidence effectively, and following the reporting steps outlined in this guide, you can help protect yourself and others from harmful content and behavior. Remember that even if Discord doesn’t immediately take action, your report contributes to a safer and more welcoming community for all users.