Rules for your Discord server: a practical guide and templates

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Discord is a place where communities of all kinds come together to chat, play, and organize in real time; a true virtual living room with text, voice, and video. Without a clear set of rulesWhat starts out as an oasis of good vibes can quickly turn into chaos, spam, and toxic arguments.

Far from being authoritarian, establishing rules is a way to build community and establish healthy boundaries for living together. A well-defined regulation It facilitates moderation, aligns expectations, protects people, and gives your server an identity, attracting those who fit its culture and discouraging those who seek the opposite.

Why your server needs clear rules

The rules bring tangible benefits from day one. They make expectations clear about what is allowed and what is not, avoiding unnecessary misunderstandings and conflicts in chat and voice.

They are also a key tool to protect the community. Prohibit harassment, spam and inappropriate content, foster a safe and inclusive environment and provide support for transparent and consistent moderation decisions.

In addition, they serve as a basis for resolving disputes. When a violation occurs, the moderation team can act based on public and widely known standards, with proportional and documented measures.

And finally, they help the organization. Define what to publish on each channel keeps the server tidy and makes the experience more enjoyable for first-timers and those who participate daily.

Rules that must be reflected yes or yes (Discord Guidelines)

Your rules must adhere to Discord's Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. Some non-negotiable minimumsProhibition of harassment and threats; hate speech (racism, sexism, LGBTIphobia, etc.); advocacy of or incitement to violence; grooming or any online sexual abuse, with special protection for minors.

Likewise, intellectual property and permitted content must be respected. He is out of the game Sharing copyrighted software, art, or music without permission, as well as sexually explicit material, gore, or NSFW content in unauthorized spaces.

An important note: Discord is only allowed for ages 13 and up.Your community can and should include minor users, so it's a good idea to keep the environment safe and suitable for all audiences if that's the focus of the server.

Base rule template (ready to copy and adapt)

Below is a comprehensive and easily adaptable proposal for a general regulation. Use it as is or modify it to fit the tone and theme of your community.

1) Respect above all. Treat any member, moderator, or administrator politely. Harassment, disrespect, racism, sexism, homophobia, and any form of hate speech are prohibited.

2) Appropriate language. Avoid rude, derogatory, or provocative language. Keep conversations clean, especially in topic-based and general-access channels.

3) No spam or flooding. Don't send repetitive messages or link multiple lines together: a maximum of 5 lines per message. Don't use ALL CAPS, emojis, or mentions. Self-promotion and unsolicited links also count as spam.

4) Safe Content (SFW). NSFW (sexual, violent, or gory) material is prohibited. If the server has 18+ areas, access requires a specific role and strict age compliance.

5) Advertising only with permission. Don't promote other servers, channels, or services without express authorization. If there's a channel for this, use it and follow its rules.

6) Appropriate profiles. Usernames, avatars, and statuses must not be offensive, confusing, or NSFW. Moderation may request changes if necessary.

7) No raiding. Any coordinated incursion to annoy will result in immediate expulsion and banning.

8) Privacy and security. Sharing other people's personal data (doxing) or threatening DDoS or similar actions is prohibited. Private information remains private.

9) Comply with Discord rules. This server also abides by Discord's ToS and Community Guidelines at all times.

10) Voice with label. Don't shout, play troll audio, or play loud music; use push-to-talk if you're experiencing noise. We ask for respect for ongoing conversations.

The moderation team You can warn, silence, expel, or ban anyone who disrupts the community. If you disagree with a measure, please contact the administration privately to review it.

If your server requires separate levels of detail, you can choose from three template styles: standard (for most), another detailed one (differentiating between casual and official channels, and fine-tuning spam control) and a concise version (straight to the point, ideal for quick reading).

Specific rules: text, voice, and pings

In text channels, post everything in its place: memes on your channel, music where appropriate, support on support. Use the correct channel reduces noise and makes the server more efficient.

Avoid inflammatory topics if there is no clear channel for them. Politics and religion They can only be allowed in designated spaces and with their own rules, because they tend to lead to tense discussions.

About mentions: no unreasonable mass pings. Restricts @everyone and @here to authorized roles (e.g., Owner, Administrators, Helpers, VIPs, Event Organizers, Right-Hand Persons, Artists, and Content Creators), and avoid tagging roles or users unreasonably.

In voice channels, quality and respect prevail. No disturbing noises allowed, blowing into or overdriving your microphone, using soundboards out of context, shouting, or repeating yourself over and over. If you're eating, use push-to-talk or mute yourself.

Also: do not record conversations without permission. Explicit consent of all people in the channel is mandatory if you want to record audio.

Spam, flood, emojis and more

To keep your chat readable, limit repeated sending and segment-by-segment messaging. Consider flooding to be more than 5 lines in a row; compact ideas into fewer messages and let the chat breathe between contributions.

Avoid overloading with emotes: maximum 5 emojis per intervention It's a healthy guide. The same goes for stickers and chain reactions, which can become visual noise for others.

Self-promotion should be directed to the correct channel, if one exists, and should follow the specific rules of that space. Indirect spam It also counts: disguised references and hidden links are not valid to attract users.

If someone sends you advertising or invitations via direct message, don't interact. Report on the reporting channel (for example, 'report-users') with evidence for staff to act on.

Rules of coexistence and server culture

Respect everyone, without exceptions. No practical jokes on strangersHumor isn't always understood equally and can be offensive. Make sure you're familiar with it beforehand and that the other person shares the same tone.

Avoid sensitive topics if they are not covered in the server's theme or if there are no prepared channels. Politics, religion, football or sex They tend to heat up the environment; direct them to specific spaces or avoid them.

Take care with your writing: moderate spelling and clear messages are required. Avoid writing in capital letters (equivalent to shouting) and word elongations that hinder reading.

Respect turns, both in text and voice. Let them talk without interruptingDon't step on microphones or monopolize a voice room. If you block their use without reason, you may lose temporary access.

Education is two-way: respect the staff and the restDon't be overbearing just because you have a role; after all, a role can come and go, and the goal is to maintain a healthy environment.

Rules on roles, privileges, and applications

Do not ask for moderation ranks privately or publicly. Staff applications They open when you tap and will be advertised; there is usually a dedicated channel (e.g., 'applications') with requirements and a form.

If you have permissions, do not use them for personal gain or without justification. Creating, deleting or hiding channels is prohibited. on a whim, or muting/deafening people for no reason. Banning, kicking, or muting should always be justified.

About using global ping: @everyone and @here Only for authorized roles and important announcements. Overuse of these mentions is annoying, disables notifications, and wears down the community.

On some servers, file or image sharing is restricted for the first week. Respect the minimum period (e.g., 7 days) helps prevent trolls from coming in, posting inappropriate content, and leaving.

Sensitive and NSFW content

If your community is suitable for all audiences, there won't be any NSFW spaces. If there are rooms +18, their access must be protected by roles, verification and strict age compliance.

In any case, distributing sexually explicit or violent content on channels not intended for such purposes is prohibited. Moderation will remove the content and will apply measures according to severity.

Community Privacy and Security

Never share other people's personal information without permission: real names, addresses, private photos, or other data. Doxing leads to a permanent ban. and without exceptions to protect the community.

When in doubt about whether something is right, stop. Use common senseIf you think it might be annoying or violate a rule, don't post it. And if something bothers you or you see a violation, please report it to moderation.

Channels, bots and commands

Use each channel for its intended purpose. No bot commands in the general if there's a 'bot commands'. Separate music, memes and support through channels speeds up conversation and avoids noise.

Don't overuse bots: avoid command spam, endless music queues, or overloading games. Authorized personnel only You can add new bots, for server security.

Pinned reminders and notices outside the rules channel

In addition to formal rules, many servers post quick notices in the general chat to educate on customs. For example: not asking how many people there are in a particular activity; if you want to know, go online and encourage participation yourself. Ignoring these warnings may result in minor penalties.

Another common reminder: avoid turning the chat into a public moderation complaint center. If you disagree with a decision, use the appropriate private channel or contact the appropriate person.

Staff recommendations and protocol for disagreements

The final decision rests with the staff. Do not intervene publicly in ongoing sanctions. If you believe a measure was unfair, first speak to the head mod or staff member, and if there's no solution, speak to the owner.

When reporting to a moderator, be discreet: avoid announcing that you are going to reportDon't threaten to report without reason, and don't leak messages from private reporting channels. Harassment of staff may also be punishable.

How to create the rules channel and make it mandatory

Creating the channel is simple: in Settings, add a text channel called, for example, #rules or #norms. Remove write permission to the @everyone role so that only staff members can post and keep the channel clean.

1. Open Server Settings and create a text channel (#rules).
2. Set permissions so that only authorized roles can write.
3. Activate Member Review (Membership Screening) in the Community section.
4. Write the rules on the review screen and requires your explicit acceptance to participate.

With review active, anyone who joins will see the rules and must accept them before chatting or entering voice. This is how you make sure that everyone knows the basic framework from minute one.

Moderation protocol: escalation of measures

It is advisable to have a plan of action by levels and apply it consistently. Proportionality is key to maintain community trust.

1. Warning (public or private) with reference to the specific standard.
2. Temporary mute if the behavior persists (e.g., 1 hour or 1 day).
3. Kick-start (expulsion) when there is no cooperation or the fault is serious.
4. Ban (permanent ban) for serious or repeat offenses.

Document the measures in an internal staff channel. Record the context It helps to be fair in future decisions and to explain actions if someone requests a review.

Practical cases and specific rules for daily use

General channels: Avoid commands, off-topic topics, or off-site roleplay. Use the channel that plays for order maintenance (support, memes, music, ads, etc.).

Voice: Don't post troll/loud audio, make annoying noises, or experiment with filters if the channel isn't designed for it. If your microphone makes noise, adjust sensitivity, use push-to-talk, or mute yourself temporarily.

Images and files: If the server enforces a minimum age limit for sharing media, respect it. Limit to users with one week reduces the risk of inappropriate content from newly created accounts.

Applications and announcements: When staff vacancies become available, they will be announced and the corresponding channel or form will be enabled. Don't insist on asking for a role privately or pressure moderators.

Self-promotion: If there is a 'promotion' or 'introduction' channel, use it sparingly and without invite links to other Discords if it is prohibited. Follow local rules from that channel to avoid sanctions.

Profiles, pings and statuses

Username, avatar, and status must be legible and appropriate. Avoid strange characters that make mention difficult, excessively long names, or statuses that include advertising or provocations.

Pings should be reasonable: mention only when useful and avoid mention chains to roles or people. The abuse of labels It hinders conversation and annoys those who receive notifications.

Profiles that impersonate others, pose as staff, or invite scams will be sanctioned. Phishing have no place in the community.

What to do when problems arise

If you notice any violations, please contact the moderation team and provide evidence (screenshots, IDs, links). Do not enter public climbs that increase the conflict; moderation is there to resolve.

If you have a disagreement with someone, try first to tone it down or move the conversation to private. When it doesn't work, asks a mod for mediation. Private disputes are best kept out of the general spotlight.

In situations involving minors or real risk, prioritize safety. Report immediately Any suspicion of grooming, threats, or doxing. Firm action will be taken and, if appropriate, escalated to Discord.

Quick checklist for owners and managers

Before launching your server, get the basics ready: #rules, #announcements, #reports, #bot commands, and any topic channels you need. Define roles and permissions calmly to avoid security gaps.

Check that posted notices generally complement and do not contradict the rules. Unifies the tone of the regulations so that no one receives confusing messages.

One last helpful tip: maintain a private team channel to record decisions and response templates. You will save time and you will gain long-term internal transparency.

With clear rules, organized channels, and an organized staff, your server becomes a welcoming and dynamic place where people want to stay. Rules are not a brake, are the framework that allows us to converse, create and play without unnecessary noise.