Discord, a versatile communication platform
Video conferencingVirtual Exchange
Description: Discord is a communication platform primarily designed for creating communities, hosting discussions, and facilitating real-time communication through text, voice, and video. Users can join existing servers or create their own and share their screens, stream content, or listen to music. It was mainly designed for gamers, but it is also employed by various other communities, including educational groups. Discord is free to use. Signing up for an account is required to access most of Discord's features and join servers. It was developed by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy.
Evaluation: Discord can be a useful tool for teachers to communicate and share information with students through their server, or for teamwork among students. It is also an excellent way for bigger groups to discuss and collaborate on projects or other tasks. Moreover, there are thousands of Discord servers, many of them dedicated to language learning, that could help learn a language autonomously. Basic IT skills required.
Cost: Free with registration + paid plans available.
Usability and tech notes ▼
Time efficiency 
Time needed to learn how to use a tool and its time-saving potential: Medium. It is slightly more complex than other communication platforms since it has more functionalities, so it requires some time to get familiarised with the tool.
Interface language(s) The number of languages in which the tool is currently available/adaptable to: English and 27 other languages.
Respect for privacy What data does the tool collect and why? What security measures are there? GDPR compliant? : Medium. Discord collects various types of user data, including account information (e.g., username, email), content users create (e.g., messages, files), payment information, and information from users' actions on the platform. It does so to provide services, ensure safety, enforce community guidelines, offer customer support, and improve its services. Importantly, it emphasises not selling personal information to third parties, although it might share anonymised or aggregated data.. Discord uses encryption to protect user data both in transit and at rest, which is a standard security measure. It also mentions access controls and two-factor authentication for added security. Discord provides users with various controls to manage their privacy, such as limiting and modifying data collection and deleting or disabling their accounts. Discord mentions compliance with various data protection frameworks, such as the GDPR. See more here.
Saving work for future use Can work be saved for future use?: Yes.