**Discord Faces Enshittification Concerns Amid Potential IPO and Ad Integration**

Discord, the social media platform beloved by many for its ad-free experience, is facing widespread concern over recent changes and potential future plans. With reports suggesting a possible initial public offering (IPO) later this year and an increasing shift toward advertising revenue, Discord's longtime users fear the platform may undergo the same negative transformation, colloquially known as "enshittification," that has marred many other online communities.

Discord's Co-founder and CTO, Stanislav Vishnevskiy, shares these anxieties. In a recent interview with Engadget, he emphasized that internal discussions frequently revolve around the risk of the platform alienating its user base. "I understand the anxiety and concern," Vishnevskiy said, noting that the issues people worry about are what distinguish a genuinely user-focused company from others.

The most visible change raising red flags is Discord’s foray into advertising—a practice it had avoided since its inception in 2015. In March 2024, Discord began including ads in its desktop and console apps, and later expanded to video ads on its mobile app. The introduction of Orbs, a feature allowing users to earn in-game rewards by interacting with ads, signals Discord's increased reliance on advertising revenue.

The leadership shift within the company has only fueled speculation about an impending IPO. Following the departure of Co-founder and CEO Jason Citron in April, Humam Sakhnini—a veteran with experience in public companies like Activision Blizzard—stepped in as his replacement. Although Citron indicated there were "no specific plans" for an IPO at the time, he acknowledged that hiring Sakhnini was a step in that direction. Vishnevskiy, however, declined to comment on any IPO plans during his conversation with Engadget.

Despite these concerns, Discord has a track record of retracting unpopular changes, which offers a glimmer of hope for its users. For instance, in 2021, the platform abandoned ideas related to crypto wallet apps due to user backlash. Similarly, a games store launched in October 2018 was closed in September 2019 after it became clear that the majority of Nitro subscribers did not engage with it.

Per Vishnevskiy, these experiences have reinforced Discord's commitment to its gaming roots. The company plans to focus future efforts on gaming-centric features like Nitro subscriptions. Discord has also scrapped AI features that didn't perform well, including a Clyde chatbot based on OpenAI models.

Although the shift to advertising concerns many, Vishnevskiy argues that some elements, like Orbs, align with gaming interests and could benefit both gamers and developers.

As Discord navigates these changes, its leadership seems keenly aware of the enshittification risks, and users hope that the platform's past actions indicate a willingness to prioritize community satisfaction over short-term gains.