Discord acquires Gas, a popular app for teens to compliment each other
1–10 of 23 posts
Re: Discord acquires Gas, a popular app for teens to compliment each other
#2Congrats to the team! Called this in November. Discord probably bought for the social graph of verified teens. https://twitter.com/lostinthegc/status/1594108696950607872
Re: Discord acquires Gas, a popular app for teens to compliment each other
#3It's been fun following Nikita's twitter from the prelaunch announcement, to the "human trafficking" rumor scandal, to a national phenomenon, to the real life experience of my 14 yo nephew being obsessed with it, and finally to this acqui-hire. Masterful execution throughout and a testament to what's still possible because of the internet. 4 friends hacking away in their apartment with zero outside funding to millions of users and likely an 8-9 figure exit, all within six months. Pretty inspiring stuff.
Re: Discord acquires Gas, a popular app for teens to compliment each other
#4First time I've seen Gas, suppose I'm out of the target demographic now.
As someone who's made a lot of internet friends on Discord over years of use, I get the nagging feeling that this app hinges on the premise that receiving e-compliments (that the app writes for the users) minimizes the workload needed to give a youth internet validation. Internet validation is rather addicting and (in my experience) debilitating for youths that allow themselves to become hooked on it. Almost all youths aren't aware of this, it is not taught to them.
That said, there aren't enough compliments in our world, especially for those suffering through highschool. If Gas avoids aggressively pursuing its users' engagement like more popular social platforms, I find it foolish to condemn software that aims to help kids feel comfortable in their own skin. I know a past self who would've given a whole lot for something like this.
Re: Discord acquires Gas, a popular app for teens to compliment each other
#5I'm both inspired and green with envy at what the Gas team was able to do here.
Re: Discord acquires Gas, a popular app for teens to compliment each other
#6Discord is notorious for being infested with moderators who try to groom/target teenagers and children, so them acquiring more access to teenagers could be a problem.
Re: Discord acquires Gas, a popular app for teens to compliment each other
#7It's been fun following Nikita's twitter from the prelaunch announcement, to the "human trafficking" rumor scandal, to a national phenomenon, to the real life experience of my 14 yo nephew being obsessed with it, and finally to this acqui-hire. Masterful execution throughout and a testament to what's still possible because of the internet. 4 friends hacking away in their apartment with zero outside funding to million…
My concern is that no well-intentioned company will pay 8-9 figures for such an app, so it's likely a data harvesting and/or advertising operation which is disgusting especially when it comes to kids.
Re: Discord acquires Gas, a popular app for teens to compliment each other
#8Congrats to the team! Called this in November. Discord probably bought for the social graph of verified teens. https://twitter.com/lostinthegc/status/1594108696950607872
> bought for the social graph of verified teens
Which feels extremely creepy and disgusting. I can't see many well-intentioned reasons to buy something like this besides manipulating them to act against their own interests down the line.
Re: Discord acquires Gas, a popular app for teens to compliment each other
#9Nikita is a wild builder. It was insane to watch this play out through his twitter.
Now I'm really curious what Discord has planned for Gas.
Re: Discord acquires Gas, a popular app for teens to compliment each other
#10Discord is notorious for being infested with moderators who try to groom/target teenagers and children, so them acquiring more access to teenagers could be a problem.
You may be conflating discord (the company) with discord (the individualized servers where communication takes place, each with their own self-picked moderators that are entirely unrelated to the company).