Chat service for gamers Discord introduces stricter rules for channels where an adult or so-called ‘not safe for work’ topics are discussed.

It is striking that these channels are no longer accessible from an iOS device. Discord seems to want to give in to Apple’s strict regime around nudity and sex with the new rules.

Discord allows users to create their chat servers, often for groups of friends or communities, to chat online. In such a server, you can create multiple channels, such as discussing specific topics, one for memes, one for cat photos, and so on. The service has long allowed some of those channels to be referred to as ‘NSFW’. That puts an age limit on that channel and means minors can’t get in.

With a new update to their rules, Discord is now asking that communities that organize around adult themes or contain a majority of 18+ channels designate the entire server as NSFW. Discord will also assign the label to servers when they are not doing it themselves. This means that the server is not accessible to minors, and, surprisingly, it is blocked on iOS devices.

The system seems to exist in part to keep Apple sweet. The tech giant is very strict with apps it sees as ‘inappropriate’ and throws apps that show too much nakedness from its App Store. This policy would be responsible, among other things, for the porn ban on social network Tumblr.

For some Discord users, this means that they may no longer manage some of their servers from their mobile device. The rules also seem to be of concern to digital artists’ communities (quite a few of whom moved from Tumblr to Discord two years ago).