Discord’s CTO Fights Against “Enshittification” in Platform Strategy

Discord users have voiced concerns about the platform’s direction as it explores monetization strategies, including advertising. Amid these anxieties, Discord’s CTO, Stanislav Vishnevskiy, is actively addressing the risk of “enshittification”—the degradation of a platform’s quality over time—within the company’s internal discussions.

In a recent interview, Vishnevskiy acknowledged user concerns, stating that Discord employees regularly debate how to balance business needs with user satisfaction. “I understand the anxiety and concern,” he said. “I think the things that people are afraid of are what separate a great, long-term focused company from just any other company.”

Ads and the IPO Question

Discord’s introduction of ads in March 2024 has fueled concerns, particularly with the rollout of video ads on mobile and the introduction of Orbs, which reward users for ad engagement. The recent departure of co-founder and CEO Jason Citron, replaced by Humam Sakhnini—an experienced leader of public companies—has also intensified speculation about a potential IPO and further shifts in strategy.

Vishnevskiy has emphasized the need for careful consideration when implementing monetization strategies. “I’m definitely the one who’s constantly bringing up enshittification [at internal meetings],” he noted. “It’s not a bad thing to build a strong business and to monetize a product. That’s how we can reinvest and continue to make things better. But we have to be extremely thoughtful about how we do that.”

Discord’s History of Course Correction

Discord has demonstrated a willingness to reverse course when user feedback is negative. For example, the company abandoned plans for Discord crypto wallet apps in 2021 after user backlash. Vishnevskiy explained that Discord underestimated user sensitivity to NFTs and failed to adequately explain their intentions. In 2019, Discord also shuttered its games store after realizing it wasn’t resonating with Nitro subscribers.

These past experiences have reinforced Discord’s focus on its core gaming audience. The company plans to concentrate on gaming-centric business efforts, such as Nitro subscriptions, and has abandoned AI features that “did not work well enough,” including the Clyde chatbot.

Vishnevskiy argues that some advertising initiatives, such as Orbs, can align gamer and developer interests. The ultimate question remains whether Discord can successfully navigate the path to monetization without alienating its loyal user base and falling victim to “enshittification.” Only time will tell.

Source: Ars Technica