Is There an App to Analyze Discord Messages for Abuse?
Reviewed by Jacob Reed, founder of Verity ·
Short answer
Yes, once both sides of the conversation are in one file. Discord's own data download holds only the messages you sent, none of the other person's, so on its own it can't show what they said. A DM exported with DiscordChatExporter, an open-source third-party tool, is a .json file with both sides, names and times; Verity reads that file in your browser and flags threats, gaslighting, blame and floods of messages, each with its date. DiscordChatExporter's own documentation warns that using it with a personal account breaks Discord's terms, so read that before you decide.
Discord is where a lot of harassment happens between people who met through games or servers, and where some co-parents end up talking because it is the app they already had.
Why Discord's own download isn't enough
Requesting your data (User Settings, then Data & Privacy) gets you a package with a folder of messages for each conversation. Each one lists the messages you sent, with their times and any attachments, but not the other person's replies. That is useful for showing what you said and when; it can't show what was said to you. Verity recognises the package and tells you so rather than scoring half a conversation. Discord says the package can take up to 30 days, so request it early anyway (steps in how to export Discord messages; what Discord keeps is in how long Discord keeps messages).
Getting both sides: a DiscordChatExporter file
DiscordChatExporter exports a single DM or channel, both sides, as JSON. Use the .json format and upload the file as it is: Verity reads each message with its author and time and skips pins and join notices. The tool signs in with your account's token, and its own documentation says automating a user account is against Discord's terms and can get the account closed. If that risk matters, talk to your lawyer first; in a court case, the other side can also be asked to hand over the messages.
Screenshots as a backup record
Screenshots are still worth taking: scroll from the top of the DM down, keep the names, the date dividers and the times in view, and overlap each one with the last (see how to screenshot a long conversation). Verity's screenshot reader was built and tested on chat-bubble apps such as iPhone, Android, WhatsApp and Messenger. Discord shows messages without bubbles and hasn't been tested, so for a full check the .json file is the dependable route.
What the check looks for
- Threats and intimidation (see threatening messages).
- Gaslighting, blame-shifting and DARVO: denying what happened, then turning it around on you.
- Demands for an instant answer, such as "I know you're online" (see reply demands).
- Dozens of messages in a row (see message flooding).
What a pattern check can't do
It reads words and timing. It can't see voice chats, deleted messages that are no longer in the file, or what anyone meant, and like any check it misses some messages and flags some ordinary ones. Our methodology page sets out what Verity measured and where it falls short.
Where does Verity fit?
The free preview flags the patterns, shows one flagged message, and lets you read every message numbered in date order. Paid options are one-time: the numbered list ($19), or a report quoting the flagged messages with their dates ($99 Standard, $149 Detailed). Other apps are covered in apps that check messages for manipulation.
This is general information, not legal advice. If you are in danger, call 911; the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788. If an adult is sending sexual messages to a child, report it to the police and to NCMEC's CyberTipline (report.cybertip.org, 1-800-843-5678).
Check a Discord conversation free
Try the sample first, or drop in your .json export. It is read in your browser and is not uploaded.