Discord Guide to Communication and Community Building

Discord is an amazing platform for communication and community building. It offers a wide range of features that make it easy to connect with others.

You can create a server to host your community, and with 10,000 members, you can have a large and engaged group. This is great for gaming communities, social groups, and more.

Discord servers can have multiple channels for different topics, making it easy to stay organized and focused.

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To get started with Discord, create an account and run it in your browser or install the Discord app, which offers more customization options.

You can join a pre-existing server by using an invitation code, or create your own server with a valid server name.

Unfortunately, you can't browse for servers to join on the Discord app itself, but you can find verified servers with open invitations with a quick Google search.

Discord is platform agnostic, allowing you to integrate it with your PlayStation or Xbox account, making it a great option for non-gaming uses.

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You can join Discord by downloading the free app available for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and Windows.

A server is made up of channels that members use for communication, and you can customize server notifications and give yourself a different nickname for each joined server.

You can invite friends you added from one server into another, even though friends don't need to share a server to communicate.

A single server can have up to 500,000 members, but the owner must contact Discord support for more server space to avoid connection errors if more than 25,000 people are simultaneously online.

To start using Discord, choose a unique username, link it with an email and password, and secure it with two-factor authentication.

Discord will prompt you to start or join a server, which are the main forums on Discord, and you can search for servers or create your own.

There are servers for all sorts of interests, from games to music genres to memes, so you're likely to find one that suits your tastes.

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Video calls and streaming are a big part of Discord, allowing users to create private video calls with up to 50 users. This feature was increased from 10 users in October 2017, and later expanded with live streaming channels in servers in August 2019.

Discord also allows users to share their entire screen or a specific application, and others in that channel can choose to watch the stream. This feature is different from livestreaming capabilities of platforms like Twitch, as Discord doesn't plan to compete with these services.

Discord makes money through a 10% commission as the distribution fee from all games sold through game developers' verified servers.

Servers are the backbone of Discord, allowing you to create and manage communities of users.

You can create servers for free and set their public visibility, making it easy to share with friends or keep private. Most servers have a limit of 250,000 members, but you can contact Discord to increase this limit if needed.

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Users can join servers by clicking an invite link or by searching for the server name, making it easy to connect with others who share similar interests. To manage your server, you can create roles and assign them to users, giving them specific permissions and responsibilities.

Verified servers, like those owned by game developers and publishers, have badges to mark them as official communities, adding an extra layer of credibility and trust. In 2023, the server for Midjourney reached over 15 million members, making it the largest server on Discord.

To create a server, tap or click the + symbol on the servers panel, then follow the prompts to name it, add a picture, and set up categories and channels. You can also use templates to speed up the process and get started quickly.

As a server owner, you can manage user permissions, create roles, and set up community settings to ensure your server runs smoothly. By enabling community settings, you can require users to have a verified email address to join and allow Discord to scan uploaded media for explicit content.

Discord offers both private and public servers, making it easy to connect with friends or join larger communities. You can also use Discord to manage large groups of people, with tools like automated admin and moderation to keep things organized and on track.

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User profiles on Discord have undergone some changes over time. Users register for Discord with an email address and must create a username.

Until mid-2023, users were assigned a four-digit number called a "discriminator" or "Discord tag" which was added to the end of their username. This allowed multiple users to use the same username.

The discriminator system was changed to a handle-based system in May 2023, removing the discriminator from usernames. Users had to select new usernames, with priority given to how early they registered for Discord, Nitro status, and ownership of partner and verified servers.

This change raised concerns about impersonation risk if a user's previous username was claimed by another user. Users were able to select new usernames based on their registration date, Nitro status, and server ownership.

In June 2021, Discord added an "about me" section to user profiles, allowing users to add a brief description. This feature was a welcome addition for users who wanted to share more about themselves.

Subscribers to Discord Nitro can also upload custom banners to their profiles. They can choose from static or animated images, giving their profiles a more personalized touch.

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Video calls and streaming have become a big part of Discord's features, allowing users to connect with each other in new ways.

Video calling was added in October 2017, initially allowing up to 10 users to join a private call, which was later increased to 50 due to the increased popularity of video calling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This feature has been a game-changer for many users, making it easier to connect with friends and family remotely.

In August 2019, Discord expanded its video calling capabilities with live streaming channels in servers, allowing users to share their entire screen or a specific application with others.

Users can now choose to watch a stream in a channel, making it easy to share content with a group of people.

Discord doesn't plan to compete with services like Twitch, as its live streaming features are designed for small groups, not large-scale broadcasting.

Discord also makes money through a 10% commission as the distribution fee from all games sold through game developers' verified servers, which is a clever way for the company to monetize its platform.

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Discord has introduced its GameBridge API, which allows game developers to directly integrate with Discord within games.

In December 2017, Discord added a software development kit (SDK) that allows developers to integrate their games with the service, called "rich presence". This integration is commonly used to allow players to join each other's games through Discord or to display information about a player's game progression in their Discord profile.

There are around 430,000 total bots active in estimated 30% of all servers as of 2021, and Discord provides official bot APIs which allow custom elements such as dropdowns and buttons.

The Verge described bots as an "important part of Discord", and in spring 2022, Discord released an official "app directory" where server owners can add bots to their servers in-Discord.

Many popular bots offer very specific fun or useful extras to help spice up your server, such as letting you call real phone numbers, adding server stat readouts, or displaying player career stats for games like Fortnite.

BetterDiscord is an open-source desktop modification that allows various plugins to be installed, which can augment existing functionality or add features that are not offered by Discord.

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Discord's infrastructure is a complex system that ensures a seamless user experience. It's based on an eventually consistent database architecture.

The platform has undergone significant changes to accommodate its growing user base, migrating from MongoDB to Apache Cassandra and later to ScyllaDB. This migration has helped Discord handle a trillion messages.

The desktop, web, and iOS apps use React, which provides a consistent user interface across different platforms. The Android app now shares code with the iOS app, making maintenance and updates easier.

Discord's software framework, Electron, allows the desktop client to operate as an installed application on personal computers. This means users can access Discord without needing to open a web browser.

The Google Cloud Platform's infrastructure supports Discord in over thirty data centres located in thirteen regions. This setup helps keep latency low, ensuring a smooth experience for users.

In July 2020, Discord integrated Krisp audio-filtering technology to add noise suppression to its mobile app. This feature has greatly improved the overall audio quality for users.

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Discord has evolved its monetization strategy over the years, with various subscription tiers and features.

The first paid subscription, Discord Nitro Classic, was released in January 2017 for $4.99 a month. It included features like animated avatars, custom emojis, and increased file upload sizes.

In October 2018, Discord Nitro Classic was renamed, and a new $9.99 tier was introduced, which included access to free browser games through the Discord game store. Monthly subscribers of Discord Nitro Classic were gifted with Discord Nitro until January 1, 2020, and yearly subscribers were gifted with Discord Nitro until January 1, 2021.

Discord also introduced Server Boosts in June 2019, allowing users to purchase a subscription for $4.99 a month to benefit specific servers. Users with Discord Nitro or Discord Nitro Classic have a 30% discount on server boost costs, with Nitro subscribers getting 2 free server boosts.

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In August 2018, Discord launched a games storefront beta, allowing users to purchase a curated set of games through the service.

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Discord's revenue cut was reduced to 10% in December 2018, after the Epic Games Store challenged Valve's Steam storefront by taking a lower cut of game revenue.

Developers and publishers can offer their games through a dedicated store channel on their server, with Discord managing payment processing and distribution, starting in March 2019.

This feature can be used to give select users access to alpha- and beta-builds of a game in progress as an early access alternative.

Discord removed its digital storefront in March 2019, instead focusing on the Nitro subscription and direct sales through developers' own servers.

The Nitro subscription price was bumped from $4.99 to $9.99 a month, and a cheaper service called 'Nitro Classic' was released, which has the same perks as Nitro but does not include free games.

Discord ended its free game service in October 2019, as it found too few people were playing the games offered.

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Discord's monetization strategy is a fascinating topic, and it's worth diving into the details.

In January 2017, Discord released its first paid subscription, Discord Nitro Classic, for $4.99 a month. This subscription came with some exciting perks, including an animated avatar, custom and animated emojis, and increased file upload limits.

One of the most interesting aspects of Discord's monetization is the introduction of Server Boosts in June 2019. For $4.99 a month, users can purchase a boost for their server, unlocking perks like higher audio quality and animated server icons.

Discord Nitro, introduced in October 2018, offers even more features, including access to free browser games through the Discord game store, for $9.99 a month. However, in October 2019, Discord ended its free game service with Nitro.

In October 2020, Discord began testing digital stickers on its platform, with most stickers costing between $1.50 and $2.25. However, in May 2023, Discord made most stickers free to all users.

The ability to purchase stickers was discontinued, and users who had done so were refunded. This move reflects Discord's evolving approach to monetization and user experience.

In October 2022, Discord replaced Discord Nitro Classic with a new subscription tier, Discord Nitro Basic, for $2.99 a month. This tier offers a subset of features from the $9.99 Nitro tier.

Discord continues to innovate and expand its monetization options, including the introduction of Avatar Decorations and Profile Themes in October 2023. Users can now purchase animated decorations for their profiles from Discord's Shop.

Discord has struggled with hostile behavior and abuse within chats, with some communities being "raided" by other communities.

In 2017, Discord stated that it planned to implement changes to "rid the platform of the issue" related to abuse and hostile behavior.

Discord has a Trust and Safety department that responds to user reports, but its effectiveness is difficult to research due to the platform's focus on private communities.

A study published in New Media & Society criticized Discord's offloading of server search functions to unmoderated third-party apps, saying it facilitates hateful communities to find new audiences.

Discord shut down servers and banned users identified in a 2018 investigation by The Daily Beast that found servers distributing revenge porn and facilitating real-world harassment.

Discord has worked with the Southern Poverty Law Center to identify hateful groups using the platform and ban them, including neo-Nazi and alt-right servers.

In 2021, Discord deleted a server called The Donald due to its connection to an online forum that incited violence and spread misinformation.

Discord has also faced criticism for its moderation policies, such as banning the r/WallStreetBets server during the GameStop short squeeze, citing "hateful and discriminatory content".

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Discord has its share of spam, just like any other online platform. Basic online security practices should be applied here too.

You shouldn't open any links from people you don't know, as they might try to entice you to download malware. If you're unsure, it's best to err on the side of caution and avoid opening the link.

The core Discord experience is free, but with a paid subscription tier called Nitro, you'll get more features that can help you avoid spam. Nitro gives you custom stickers, which can help you express yourself in a more creative way and avoid misunderstandings.

However, with more features comes more risk of spam, so be careful what you download or click on. If you're feeling generous, you can pay to "boost" a server, but be aware that this can also increase the risk of spam.

By being cautious and aware of the risks, you can enjoy the benefits of Discord while staying safe online.

Streamers can rest easy with Discord's Streamer Mode, which hides invite codes and other personal info from view during a stream.

If you're a streamer, consider syncing Discord to your YouTube or Twitch account to set up subscriber-only channels and give subs special permissions on the server.

Private servers are perfect for hanging out with friends, not strangers, and work great for any kind of communication that requires secrecy.

Discord is a versatile platform that can be used alongside your favorite activities, like playing fighting games with friends on weekends.

You can connect to the same Discord server from any device, making it easy to chat with friends regardless of whether you're playing on a console or PC.

Private servers are perfect for hanging out with friends, and they also work well for secret communication, like asking developers questions through a password-protected server.

Private servers are not for interacting with strangers, so keep that in mind when creating your servers.

Discord doesn't compete with video game live-streaming platforms like Twitch, but it's a great complementary service that lets you interact with other fans while watching your favorite streamers.

Streamers can reward their fans who sync their Discord account with Patreon, Twitch, or YouTube by giving them continued access to their servers as long as they stay subscribed.

As a streamer, you want to make sure your viewers have a great experience, and Discord can help with that. Discord gives your viewers more flexibility than a simple chat window on Twitch does.

You can rest easy knowing that Discord's Streamer Mode will intelligently hide invite codes, DiscordTags, and other personal info if it appears on-screen during a stream. This means you don't have to worry about your viewers seeing sensitive information.

Syncing Discord with your YouTube or Twitch account can be super helpful - you can set up subscriber-only channels and give subs special permissions on the server. This can make for a great one-stop shop for interaction among you and your followers.

Logging into all your accounts can be a bit overwhelming, but don't worry, I've got you covered.

You can link your Xbox account to Discord and share your game stream directly from Xbox by tapping the main Xbox button, going into Parties and Chat, and selecting Discord.

To control what information about you is displayed on Discord, check your privacy settings by tapping the little gear icon by your username.

Discord displays a lot of data about you by default, so take a look at what's exposed by your privacy settings.

You can filter NSFW messages and servers, decide whether to let strangers message you, and control the types of activity data you send back to Discord from your User Settings.

To control your activity visibility, tap your profile pic and choose a status - Online, Idle, Do Not Disturb, or Invisible.

Selecting Invisible will keep your activity out of your status, even if you're set to Online.

You can also limit what information about your connected accounts is displayed by going into your Connections tab in User Settings.

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