Discord's Enshittification Concerns: CTO Stanislav Vishnevskiy Speaks Out

Discord members are biting their nails as buzz surrounds the social media company's potential initial public offering (IPO) and its increasing reliance on advertising revenue. This has sparked fears that Discord could fall victim to "enshittification," a term reflecting the degradation seen in various online communities. Co-founder and CTO, Stanislav Vishnevskiy, shares these concerns.

In a recent interview with Engadget, Vishnevskiy asserted that worries over Discord's future frequently surface in company discussions. He stated, "I understand the anxiety and concern. I think the things that people are afraid of are what separate a great, long-term focused company from just any other company."

Reasons for concern among longtime Discord users are apparent as the platform delves into advertising, a path it has avoided since its 2015 inception. In March 2024, Discord began placing ads on its desktop and console apps, later extending video ads to its mobile app, and launching "Orbs." This new currency rewards users for interacting with ads, which can then be traded for in-game incentives. Furthermore, Discord recently announced plans to expand its advertising partnerships.

With the prospect of Discord going public, especially following the departure of co-founder and CEO Jason Citron in April, questions linger. Citron was succeeded by Humam Sakhnini, known for his leadership roles in public companies like Activision Blizzard. In an interview, Citron acknowledged that hiring Sakhnini indicates a direction towards an IPO, though no specific plans have been confirmed. Vishnevskiy refrained from commenting on the IPO scenario in his engagement with Engadget.

Vishnevskiy emphasized Discord's vigilance against enshittification, noting, "I'm definitely the one who's constantly bringing up enshittification at internal meetings. It's not a bad thing to build a strong business and monetize a product; that's how we can reinvest and enhance what we offer. However, this needs to be done thoughtfully."

Discord's past retractions of unfavorable initiatives offer some confidence. For instance, in 2021, Discord abandoned plans for crypto wallet apps after backlash regarding NFTs. They acknowledged this was due to underestimating user sensitivity on the topic. Moreover, in September 2019, Discord closed a gaming store that failed to resonate with its Nitro subscribers.

These experiences underline Discord's commitment to its gaming-centric model focused on services like Nitro subscriptions. Recently, they discontinued AI features and the AI-powered chatbot Clyde that were ineffective or unpopular. Vishnevskiy noted that advertising paths, like Orbs, do align with gaming interests, indicating a careful consideration of community alignment.

Despite lingering skepticism about Discord's future, there remains a glimmer of hope. Examples of companies achieving "unshittification" suggest a possible positive trajectory for Discord as it navigates upcoming transformations.