CARU Determines Social Media Platform Discord Complies with COPPA and CARU Guidelines with Proper Protections for Children Under 13
703.247.9330 / press@bbbnp.org
New York, NY – October 6, 2020 – The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU), a division of BBB National Programs, determined that Discord Inc. is not an online service directed to children as defined by Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and CARU’s Guidelines for Online Privacy Protection.
Identified during CARU’s routine monitoring program of child-directed content, Discord is a social media platform that provides text, voice, and video communications services and is available on desktop, in browser, and on mobile.
Discord is popular with users who play multiplayer videos games. CARU observed channels that featured games with a significant number of users under 13, including Fortnite, Pokémon Go, and Roblox. Many YouTube influencers with large teen and tween followings also have channels on Discord and encourage viewers to visit their Discord channels. Concerned about the potential for an online audience of children under age 13, CARU carefully considered whether the online service would be considered “child-directed” under COPPA and CARU’s Guidelines.
CARU assessed evidence provided by Discord demonstrating its intent to direct its online service to adults who engage in competitive online gaming, the mature content of the most popular games for which Discord servers are created on the platform, the platform’s design, the lack of advertising campaigns directing its service to children or a younger 13-17 teen audience and its use of a subscription-based business model rather than a typical data-driven social media model that monetizes online behavioral data and determined that Discord is not intended for use by children.
“Though it isn’t always the case, the outcome we hope for is proactive corporate accountability on children’s privacy, and that is exactly what Discord delivered,” said Dona Fraser, Senior Vice President Privacy Initiatives, and Director of the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU).
CARU also looked at the privacy by design and proactive measures in place by Discord, including the implementation of a large Trust & Safety team that responds quickly to reports of under-age use.
As a general audience service, Discord is permitted to age screen and block children under 13 from using its services. CARU was pleased, in this instance, that Discord decided to implement a neutral age screen as an added measure to ensure that children under age 13 do not register and use the online service.
###
About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs is where businesses turn to enhance consumer trust and consumers are heard. The non-profit organization creates a fairer playing field for businesses and a better experience for consumers through the development and delivery of effective third-party accountability and dispute resolution programs. Embracing its role as an independent organization since the restructuring of the Council of Better Business Bureaus in June 2019, BBB National Programs today oversees more than a dozen leading national industry self-regulation programs, and continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-directed marketing, and privacy. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.
About Children’s Advertising Review Unit: The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU), a division of BBB National Programs and the nation’s first Safe Harbor Program under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), helps companies comply with laws and guidelines that protect children from deceptive or inappropriate advertising and ensure that, in an online environment, children's data is collected and handled responsibly. When advertising or data collection practices are misleading, inappropriate, or inconsistent with laws and guidelines, CARU seeks change through the voluntary cooperation of companies and where relevant, enforcement action.
Subscribe to the Ad Law Insights or Privacy Initiatives newsletters for an exclusive monthly analysis and insider perspectives on the latest trends and case decisions in advertising law and data privacy.
Latest Decisions
National Advertising Division Finds Flag Image on Kendamil Infant Formula Packaging Conveys Supported Message about Products’ Origin
New York, NY – July 17, 2024 – In a Fast-Track SWIFT challenge, the National Advertising Division determined that use of a flag image on product packaging for Kendal Nutricare’s Kendamil infant formula reasonably conveys a supported message about the products’ origin.
In National Advertising Division Case, GuruNanda Voluntarily Discontinues Claims Made through Influencers for Coconut Pulling Oil Products
New York, NY – July 16, 2024 – The National Advertising Division has closed a Fast-Track SWIFT challenge regarding claims that GuruNanda’s coconut pulling oil products can “naturally reverse a cavity” and “reverse cavities.”
National Advertising Division Refers Health-Related Advertising Claims for Prolacta’s Human Milk Fortifier to Regulatory Agencies
New York, NY – July 15, 2024 – The National Advertising Division will refer advertising claims made by Prolacta Bioscience for its Human Milk Fortifier to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for review.
AT&T Appeals National Advertising Division Recommendation to Discontinue or Modify Claim that Supplemental Coverage from Space is Presently Available
New York, NY – July 11, 2024 – In a Fast-Track SWIFT challenge brought by T-Mobile, the National Advertising Division recommended that AT&T Services, Inc. discontinue or modify the claim that its Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) is presently available to consumers.