Concerns are growing among Discord members that the social media company may change for the worse as it considers an initial public offering (IPO) and increases its reliance on advertising revenue. Co-founder and CTO Stanislav Vishnevskiy has expressed worries about Discord becoming engulfed in "enshittification," a term used to describe when online communities deteriorate due to commercialization.
Key Concerns
- Employee Discussions: Vishnevskiy stated that employees frequently discuss concerns about Discord going astray and alienating users.
- Balancing Act: He emphasized the importance of balancing business growth with user satisfaction, but skepticism remains among users.
- Introduction of Ads: The introduction of ads on Discord has raised fears, despite being relatively non-intrusive compared to other platforms.
Advertising Details
- Ad Placement: Ads appear in sidebars that expand only upon click.
- User Rewards: Users can earn rewards through the Orbs program linked to ad interactions.
- Community Ethos: This shift towards advertising revenue is seen as a potential threat to Discord’s community-driven ethos, with fears of over-commercialization similar to platforms like Twitch or YouTube Gaming.
Broader Context
In recent years, social media companies have faced criticism for prioritizing profits over user experience. This trend has led many online communities away from traditional platforms like Facebook and Twitter towards more niche services like Reddit or specialized forums.
Impact of Increased Advertising
- Twitch: Streamers have reported feeling pressure from their viewership numbers after Amazon acquired the platform in 2014.
- YouTube Gaming: Creators have expressed frustration with changes made by Google since acquiring YouTube in 2006.
Future Implications
If Discord follows a similar path, it will likely be up to individual server administrators to control their own servers’ settings regarding ads. They will decide how much they are willing to tolerate before leaving Discord altogether.
For now, users will continue watching closely as Discord navigates its next steps and decides whether it wants to prioritize profits over people.
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