Zoom has been one of the key applications in use during the pandemic due to it being the most familiar and most schools have it installed into their system already. But, with zoom being as old and outdated as it is, there have been many issues.

It is not just how hard to navigate in the software itself but nationwide, Zoom has been the center for internet trolls to attack.

Many trending videos on social media tell the story. I have witnessed it myself when at the URCA symposium this past spring.

Before the first presentation was even complete, over 30 non-student users joined the call and would shout racial slurs, harassing the presenter and even opening up the share screen option and showing pornography.

It was a horrendous incident and should have never happened in the first place.

Zoom meeting’s I.P. addresses for free public meetings are easy to gain access to and you have to pay an annual fee yearly to host your own private call which is not that much of a minimum fee of 149 dollars for the base membership, but Discord is completely free.

Discord is an easy to use application for both mobile and computer users. There is a paid membership called Discord Nitro that includes upgrades to the channels that are completely optional and use more aesthetics than anything.

Discord has many different features that are more updated and convenient that the difference is night and day.

First things first is that in Zoom breakout rooms only the moderator can move everyone to their separate rooms. In Discord you can make as many channels as you want and students can join them manually instead of the professor having to invite each individual student.

You can also have individual text chats for information and updates and could potentially post all of the classroom information in one of your sever channels as it is easy to check and easy to create.

Another detail that is small but nice to have is that you can have multiple share screens at a time unlike Zoom where whoever is presenting takes up the whole screen, making it clunky and annoying to maneuver.

One of the underrated features is that students off campus have poor internet connection. Discord was directly made for that issue when many had troubles with other applications such as skype.

If students need to get in contact with faculty or other students Discord is a more convenient way to do it instead of exchanging numbers or emailing all the time.

The biggest thing that sets Discord apart is the ability to choose who to invite. People can say “well, Zoom you send out the link through email and it is safe.” However it is still a public server and very easy to get access to.

As for Discord, it is a server link that you copy and paste. It is also easy to kick unwanted users in case that problem ever occurs because there is a default chat that shows who joins.

Lastly, if you are a moderator, you can change names on the apps to better help recognize the user. Discord is more user friendly, more updated and the future of online learning in my opinion. It is primarily used in the gaming world but I feel as if it could have more uses during the pandemic.

Discord can be found in the Apple or Android app store and can be downloaded on any search engine available with Windows 10.