Discord has quickly become one of the biggest platforms that gamers around the world have flocked to, and it’s safe to say that Discord has done some fantastic things with the app. Discord used to be just a text chat platform, but now it has evolved into an all-in-one solution for communication, voice chat, games, and screen sharing. And while there are very few issues with this platform, and everything works pretty much as advertised, there is still one thing that could be improved upon – their spam problem. Raghib Khan, who is the co-founder of RNF Technologies, warns that this problem could exacerbate if left unchecked
What Is Discord?
Discord is a VoIP and chat app for gamers that allows gamers to connect with each other for gaming purposes. However, lately, Discord has been having a spam problem. As Raghib Khan points out, the app has been overrun by spammers who are creating fake accounts and flooding the app with spam messages. This has been causing problems for genuine users trying to use the app for its intended purpose. They now have to filter through pages of spam to find the messages they are looking for.
For instance, you may be looking for a friend or guild in your favorite game, but you can’t find them because all of their posts have been pushed down by more spam. Plus, this spam overloads the servers so much that it slows connection speeds. So far, these issues have made it difficult for Discord users to enjoy their chats without being bombarded by spam.
Why Does Discord Need To Deal With Spam?
Discord allows anyone to create a server and invite people to it. So, if someone starts a server solely for spamming people, there is nothing stopping them from doing so. Some servers have been created to post inappropriate images on users’ screens. These servers usually do not last long because Discord deletes these accounts as soon as other users report them. The problem persists because new accounts continue to be created to continue this behavior. The company has followed prevention steps, such as adding an age requirement (13+) for creating a server. They also increased their response time to reports from 12 hours to 2 hours which has helped eliminate more bad actors. It still isn’t enough, though – more solutions need to be found as spam has also led to instances of identity theft, as pointed out by Raghib Khan.
In the interview, Raghib Khan talked about how spammers would try to get personal information through the use of messages that seem friendly but are actually malicious. With no consequences for those who engage in this type of activity, spammers will only increase their efforts at finding ways to circumvent security measures and get what they want.
Strategies Being Adopted Right Now To Deal With Spam
What can be done? Better moderation? Changing the server name when inviting new members? More collaboration with authorities? What might help discourage or even stop these activities entirely? It may seem simpler to ignore the issue and hope it goes away. However, ignoring it would only cause a larger and more unmanageable problem in the future if nothing is done now regarding spam, reveals Raghib Khan. Three different strategies are working currently:
The first strategy involves moderating every user carefully when they join a server. In addition to reading every single thing that each user writes, moderators must regularly check member profiles and read their history with Discord. If a particular user is seen doing something inappropriate, they should be punished accordingly and reported if necessary. Depending on how often you need to moderate new members, this strategy could be time-consuming and resource-heavy if done frequently or rarely.
The second strategy involves changing how users invite new members to join their servers. According to Raghib Khan, several changes could be made to keep spam at bay, such as having a permanent channel where members must go before they are allowed to invite others or requiring new members to pass an interview with administrators before being allowed access. These strategies also depend on how many servers an administrator manages; if someone manages hundreds of servers, it becomes difficult to enforce any of these solutions.
The third strategy is somewhat more extreme, but it may be very effective in discouraging these activities if done correctly. Discord has a feature that lets administrators ban members from using their service for a certain period of time. If someone is discovered using spam or engaging in other behavior that breaks Discord’s Terms of Service, they are temporarily banned from using any server.
To prevent spammers from getting back on other servers, it is essential to have a solid moderation policy when banning members. If someone is banned, they should not be allowed back onto any server without an administrator checking their history and ensuring that they have learned their lesson. Additionally, as recommended by Raghib Khan, who is also the co-founder of Phonato Studios, any spammer who tries to circumvent the ban by setting up a new account (e.g., by getting help from someone else) should be permanently banned instead of just temporarily banned. For example, if somebody creates five accounts over the course of two weeks and gets banned on all five accounts, then they are permanently banned after two weeks instead of being able to create more accounts again later on.
What Can Gamers Do To Prevent Spam?
Gamers can play their part in preventing spam on Discord and thus, avoiding the schemes of scammers, says Raghib Khan:
- Ensure that you have set up basic account security by using an email address, phone number, and password that is not shared with other services or accounts.
- Turn off notifications from specific channels or users if they get too distracting (or annoying).
- Please don’t use the @everyone function unless you absolutely need it.
The last thing you want is your text message popping up in a chat room where someone says explicitly to avoid this. Keep these strategies in mind, and your gaming experience will be more enjoyable!
As often discussed at Raghib Khan’s Phonato Studios, Discord is a fun way to keep in touch with friends who also game and is an excellent tool for staying connected. No wonder it has become one of (if not THE) most popular chat clients among gamers. With its easy-to-use interface, you can connect with your entire gaming community at once while also keeping up with your individual friends.
Also read:
Raghib Khan Sheds Light On In-App Purchase Scam
