Have you ever dealt with annoyances like spam, harassment, or heated arguments on Discord? As an experienced tech analyst and avid Discord user myself, I completely understand the desire to curate your ideal communication environment.
That‘s why we‘ll explore Discord‘s straightforward blocking feature today – whether desktop or mobile, you can easily take control. I‘ll also provide some insight on fostering positive community, informed by my over 5 years participation in the Discord platform.
Ready to reclaim your happy place? Let‘s get started!
What Makes Discord So Popular Anyway?
Discord didn‘t exist before 2015 – and now over 150 million users chat every month. That‘s staggering growth! Originally popular with gamers, the free application lets friends create instantanye server around their interests – from study groups to sports teams and more.
Voice, video, PUBLIC and private group text chat bring people together.
Of course, scaling so rapidly comes with downsides…namely, trolls and harassment. An open platform makes room for troublemakers. Luckily Discord anticipated this, building in mod tools like blocking.
Now let‘s get to optimizing YOUR experience!
Scenarios Where Blocking Makes Sense
You shouldn‘t feel guilty blocking anyone making you uncomfortable. Some common reasons are:
- Dealing with harassment, threats, hate speech etc
- Heated political/social debates get too intense
- Protecting privacy from strangers or server raiders
- An old friend had a falling out
- Temporarily muting an annoying spammer
Free speech doesn‘t mean you must listen! Block instead of engaging – you can always unblock later.
Step-By-Step Friend Blocking Instructions
Let‘s start simple by blocking existing friends. I‘ll demonstrate desktop and mobile, covering key similarities and differences.
Accessing the Friends Menu
First, log into your account through the Discord app or website:
On mobile, tap the icon of a waving person instead:
Got it? This brings us to…
Actually Blocking Your Friends
On desktop, click their username and "Block" at the top:
Similarly on mobile, tap the 3 dots by their name and select Block:
Easy enough! Now let‘s tackle restricting non-friends.
Removing Strangers from Your Space
Dealing with harassment from non-friends happens too, especially public community servers. Let‘s explore how desktop and mobile blocking differs here:
| Platform | How to Block Non-Friends | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop | Open their DMs, click Block | – Straightforward | – They must message you first |
| Mobile | Tap their message profile, Block | – Works even if no DMs | – More steps to find their messages |
The key takeaway? Both platforms allow restricting strangers, just slightly varied methods.
What Changes After You Block?
Blocking creates a one-way barrier where YOU control access. Once blocked, a user can‘t:
- Directly message you
- See your profile content
- Join any servers you created
- Have their messages appear in shared servers
Public information like your username and profile pic will still be visible to them. But blocking shuts down any unwanted direct contact or access to your chat groups.
Maintaining Your Boundaries
Over time, your block list may grow unruly. You can manage the list under User Settings > Privacy & Safety > Blocked Users. Removing blocks is simple for those willing to reform!
Discord doesn‘t publish max blocks allowed, though bugs appear around 20,000+. Even power users shouldn‘t reasonably need more.
For perspective, Discord banned over 37,000 accounts for severe violations like threats, harassment and hate speech between August-October 2022 alone. So while annoying, most toxic users ultimately face removal for everyone‘s sake.
In Summary, My Friend…
Discord connects millions in friendship – inevitably also mingling interests that clash. Lean on blocking to curate your adventure, rather than shying away!
Set boundaries without guilt. And for those seeking your harm? Rest assured, Discord‘s watchful eye has your back.
Now breathe easy, blocked list cleaned up and ready to chat with communities who deserve you! What cool server will you join next?
Let me know if you have any other questions!
