What is an NSFW Channel on Discord?

Hey friend! Have you ever wanted to create an adults-only space on your Discord server? Making an NSFW (Not Safe For Work) channel is a great way to do just that. As a fellow Discord enthusiast and moderator for 5+ years, I‘m going to walk you through everything you need to know about making NSFW channels.

Let‘s start from the beginning – what even is an NSFW channel?

An NSFW channel is a text or voice channel that contains pornographic, erotic, excessively violent, or otherwise explicit content unsuitable for minors.

The "NSFW" stands for "Not Safe For Work" – meaning the contents could get you in trouble if viewed at school or a workplace. So these channels act as a segmented space for adult interests and discussions.

On Discord, NSFW channels have an age gate prompt that requires members to verify they are 18+ before being granted access. This prevents any underage users from accidentally stumbling into the channel.

Some examples of channels that are commonly marked as NSFW include:

Adult-themed gaming channels
Channels for sharing NSFW memes/images
Fetish/kink discussion channels
Erotic chat or roleplay channels
Channels for very dark/offensive humor

So in summary – NSFW channels keep adult content safely tucked away from younger eyes, while still providing a space for adult members to let loose.

Here are some of the main reasons to consider making an NSFW channel on your server:

Segment Your Community

One of the big perks is compartmentalizing your community. You can keep your main social channels family-friendly, while still giving adult members a space to engage in more risque topics.

Allow Adult Interest Discussions

NSFW channels enable discussions around mature hobbies, sexual identities, dating/relationships, and more nuanced adult topics.

Having a dedicated channel gives members a place to share humor and memes that might otherwise violate server rules.

Host Adult Gaming Sessions

For adult games like HuniePop 2, Kindred Spirits, etc you can host gaming sessions in an NSFW channel.

Explore Fetishes and Kinks

The channel provides a judgement-free space for members to discuss and engage with specific fetishes or sexual kinks.

Conduct Erotic Roleplay

Some communities enjoy erotic chat and roleplay. A private NSFW channel keeps this content away from unwilling eyes.

So in essence, an NSFW channel allows adult recreation and conversations to occur, without forcing it upon the entire community.

NSFW channels require a bit of extra planning and rules to keep things mature and safe for members. Here are some key things to think about:

Have Clear Rules and Moderation

Prohibit illegal content
Ban hate speech, threats, doxxing
Appoint trusted moderators
Review rules regularly

Verify Members are 18+

Require age verification to join channel
Prohibit minors with zero tolerance

Foster a Welcoming Environment

Keep topics open, civil and constructive
Give members tools to avoid unwanted content

Communicate Expectations Clearly

Label channel purpose and rules
Remind members to use proper etiquette

Consider Alternatives if Needed

NSFW bot for on-demand content
Private threads instead of channel
Spoiler tags/optional mute

Alright, now that you know what an NSFW channel entails and some key planning tips, let‘s get into the steps of actually making one!

Here is the full process for creating an NSFW text channel on the Discord desktop app:

Step 1: Create a New Text Channel

First, open up Discord on your desktop and navigate to your server. Click the plus "+" icon next to the channel list, then select "Text Channel" to create a new text channel.

Let‘s name our channel #nsfw-chat for this example.

Step 2: Access Channel Settings

Once your new channel is created, click the gear icon next to the channel name to open settings.

Step 3: Toggle NSFW Switch

In the channel settings, you‘ll see a switch for "NSFW Channel". Toggle this to the right to enable it.

Step 4: Configure Channel Permissions

While in settings, you can customize exactly who can access the NSFW channel. For example:

Disable @everyone role permissions
Allow only users with an "18+" role
Make invite-only and manually approve members

Step 5: Save Changes to Finalize

Once your settings are configured, click "Save Changes" at the bottom to finalize the NSFW channel status.

And that‘s all there is to it! The channel is now marked as 18+ only. Pretty simple right?

Now let‘s look at how to create an NSFW voice channel…

The steps for making an NSFW voice channel are nearly identical:

Click the "+" in the channel list and select "Voice Channel"
Name the voice channel and click Create Channel
Open channel settings via the gear icon
Toggle the "NSFW" switch on
Tweak the channel permissions as desired
Click "Save Changes" at the bottom

The main difference is that you‘ll be creating a voice channel instead of text. But the NSFW toggle and permissions work the same way.

So feel free to make NSFW voice channels for group activities like adult gaming sessions, erotic chatrooms, and anything else that benefits from voice!

Now you may be wondering – can I make NSFW channels through the Discord mobile app?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. The NSFW toggle is not available in the mobile channel settings.

However, there is a workaround:

In your mobile browser, go to discord.com and log in
Use the desktop site to navigate to your server
Follow the steps above to toggle the NSFW setting

It‘s a bit clunky, but this gives you access to the same settings panel as the desktop app. So you can create NSFW channels from your phone or tablet!

Once you‘ve created your adults-only channel, staying on top of it is crucial. Here are some tips:

Clearly label the channel so members know what it contains
Maintain an active moderation presence
Review channel rules and etiquette regularly
Take swift action if members break rules
Verify all members are 18+ – zero tolerance for minors!
Keep an open dialogue with members about any issues
Accept that disagreements on acceptable content may happen

With proper moderation and management, your NSFW channel can thrive as a mature, welcoming space!

For smaller or tight-knit servers, creating an entire NSFW channel may feel unnecessary. In those cases, here are some alternative options:

Use an NSFW Bot: Bots like LewdBot can deliver adult memes/gifs on-demand without a permanent channel.
Make Private Threads: You can spawn private NSFW threads within SFW channels when needed.
Employ Tags/Spoilers: Require NSFW tags and spoilers to selectively hide mature messages.
Occasional Voice Channel: A single NSFW voice channel that isn‘t always active may suit your needs.

Consider what fits your community best when it comes to adult content!

When used properly, NSFW channels provide a ton of advantages:

You can nurture the adult side of your community without impacting the overall environment.
Members can bond over shared mature interests and explore new kinks without judgment.
It encourages openness about sexuality, relationships, and mental health.
Channel moderation teaches members maturity and accountability for their actions.
Age-gating protects discord from liability issues and ToS violations.

Ultimately, NSFW channels allow adult creativity, connections, and interests to flourish in a controlled setting!

And there you have it – everything you could need to know about making NSFW channels on Discord!

To recap:

NSFW channels segment adult content from general chat
Take steps to moderate and verify members are 18+
Toggle the NSFW setting when creating text/voice channels
Manage the channel actively to maintain a mature environment
Consider alternatives like tags or bots if a full channel is excessive

I hope this guide gave you some great tips and tricks for setting up your own adults-only channel! Feel free to reach out if you have any other Discord questions. Stay safe, and have fun with your new NSFW community!