Discord isn't banning accounts for posting X links, but some servers are considering it

The rumor mill is churning again, and this time, the panic button has been pressed over claims that Discord is banning accounts for sharing links from X (formerly Twitter). Supposedly, this banning is happening because X no longer complies with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regulations. It sounds juicy, but let’s pump the brakes — this claim is simply not true. However, there is a grain of truth to some servers considering banning X links, and that’s where things get interesting.

The panic appears to have originated in the Battle Cats Public Server, where a copypasta message warning users against posting X links started making the rounds. The message claimed that Discord accounts and servers were being banned. The supposed reason? X’s alleged lack of cooperation with NCMEC, an organization that works to combat child exploitation online. The message claims that Discord’s automated systems are crawling through X links and swiftly banning accounts if they detect problematic content, such as child sexual abuse material (CSAM), in the replies. Below is a screenshot of the message shared on Reddit.

But here’s the thing — there’s zero evidence to support this claim. Discord has made no official announcement about banning accounts for sharing X links. In fact, the idea that Discord is meticulously checking every X link — and its replies — for CSAM is, frankly, a stretch. Given the sheer volume of links shared on Discord every second, such a task would be not only technically challenging but also prohibitively expensive. While Discord’s moderation bots do scan links, there’s no evidence that simply posting an X link leads to automatic bans. What does happen is that if a link contains problematic content (such as a reply with CSAM, even if the original post is unrelated), it could trigger moderation actions. This, however, isn’t unique to X links — it applies to any external platform failing to meet Discord’s safety standards.

Discord has also not issued any policy updates indicating that sharing X links will get your account axed. If this were happening at scale, we’d be seeing widespread reports, official Discord statements, and mass outrage. Instead, we’re getting misinterpretations and half-baked conclusions from a niche discussion.

Contrary to the rumor, X has publicly stated its commitment to combating child exploitation. In May 2024, X announced initiatives to combat the online exploitation of children following the passage of the REPORT Act. Then, in September 2024, X released its first transparency report since Elon Musk took over the platform, detailing its efforts to tackle harmful content, including CSAM.

So, while X may have its fair share of controversies, the claim that it’s no longer cooperating with NCMEC doesn’t hold water. X’s policies and recent actions suggest otherwise.

While Discord itself isn’t banning accounts for sharing X links, some Discord servers are taking matters into their own hands. Enter the unofficial Arch Linux Community Discord server, which recently held a poll asking members whether to ban X links from the server. The results at some point stood at a landslide victory for the ban, with over 65% of respondents voting in favor. My efforts to access the server for the end results of the poll were in vain since they’ve paused new members from joining.

It’s worth clarifying that the Discord server at the heart of this controversy is the unofficial Arch Linux Community Discord. It doesn’t represent the views of the actual Arch team. But don’t let the “unofficial” tag fool you — this server is massive, boasting nearly 20,000 members, possibly including a significant number of Arch contributors and developers. It’s the go-to hub for Arch Linux users, and if you search for “Arch Linux” on Discord, it dominates the top search results. While it may not carry an official label, it’s about as close as you can get to an official Arch Linux Discord server without the designation.

But why the sudden move against X? The Arch Linux Community’s decision seems to be driven by a mix of ethical concerns and political sentiment. Some members view X as a platform that has become increasingly problematic under Elon Musk’s leadership, citing issues like the spread of misinformation and the platform’s perceived alignment with far-right ideologies. The decision to ban X links is seen as a stand against what some in the community describe as “Nazism, bigotry, and oppression.”

However, the move hasn’t been without controversy. Critics argue that the ban is an overreach, with some users allagedly being banned from the server for simply questioning the decision. One user reported being banned after pointing out the importance of free speech, highlighting the polarized nature of the debate. Here’s a video about this by YouTuber The Linux Journal.

Sure, some community admins might be mulling over banning X links due to concerns about content moderation and policy shifts under Elon Musk’s leadership. But if a server decides X isn’t welcome, that’s their prerogative — it doesn’t mean Discord as a whole is enforcing a ban.

This is an important distinction: Discord lets server admins control their own spaces. If a particular server doesn’t want X links, they can implement their own block, just like they might prohibit certain words, topics, or external links. But that doesn’t mean your Discord account is at risk for sharing X content elsewhere.

A big part of the misunderstanding stems from claims that X no longer complies with NCMEC rules regarding child exploitation. The assumption is that if X is non-compliant, Discord would automatically take action. However, there’s no official confirmation that X has been blacklisted by Discord for this reason. The panic seems to be based on speculation, not actual enforcement.

While it’s true that X has faced criticism for its handling of child safety concerns, jumping from that to “Discord is banning accounts for sharing X links” is a massive leap. There’s no evidence to suggest Discord is taking such drastic action, and so far, the claim remains a false rumor fueled by misunderstanding. Interestingly, this comes amidst tons of subreddits on Reddit having taken a more aggressive stance against X links, outright banning them due to concerns over misinformation and moderation failures. This move has fueled discussions about whether other platforms should follow suit, though Discord has not issued any blanket ban.

So, should you be afraid of sharing an X link on Discord? No. Discord is not banning accounts for this, and unless you’re in a server that explicitly forbids X links, you’re in the clear.

The rumor that Discord is banning accounts for sharing X links is just that — a rumor. While some Discord servers, like the unofficial Arch Linux Community, are taking a stand against X, there’s no evidence to support the claim that Discord is issuing bans on a platform-wide level.

That said, the trend of banning X links in online communities is gaining momentum, driven by a mix of ethical concerns and political sentiment. The discussion within the Arch Linux Community and Battle Cats Discord servers coupled with the actions of hundreds of subreddits shows that some online communities are considering distancing themselves from X. Whether you agree with these bans or not, one thing is clear: the debate over X’s role in online discourse is far from over.

In the meantime, feel free to keep sharing those X links on Discord — just maybe double-check the server rules first. And remember, in the wild west of the internet, not everything you read is true. Stay skeptical, stay informed, and above all, stay calm. The sky isn’t falling — yet.