Discord starts down the dangerous road of ads this week (arstechnica.com)
from yogthos@lemmy.ml to technology@lemmy.ml on 02 Apr 2024 16:59
https://lemmy.ml/post/13973374

#technology

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autotldr@lemmings.world on 02 Apr 2024 17:00 next collapse

This is the best summary I could come up with:


Discord had long been strongly opposed to ads, but starting this week, it’s giving video game makers the ability to advertise to its users.

The introduction of so-called Sponsored Quests marks a notable change from the startup’s previous business model, but, at least for now, it seems much less intrusive than the ads shoved into other social media platforms, especially since Discord users can choose not to engage with them.

Discord senior product communications manager Swaleha Carlson confirmed to Ars Technica that Sponsored Quests launch this week.

On Saturday, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that it viewed a slide from a slideshow Discord shows to game developers regarding the ads that reads: "We’ll get you in front of players.

Sellis told WSJ that Discord will target ads depending on users’ age, geographic location data, and gameplay.

In 2021, Discord enjoyed a nearly three-times revenue boost that it attributed to subscription sales for Nitro, which adds features like HD video streaming and up to 500MB uploads.


The original article contains 966 words, the summary contains 166 words. Saved 83%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

Blizzard@lemmy.zip on 02 Apr 2024 17:34 next collapse

If it turns out that those ads somehow get through my AdGuard filter then it’s a goodbye.

drkt@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 02 Apr 2024 17:52 next collapse

Discord has been showing ads, intrusively, for years

yogthos@lemmy.ml on 02 Apr 2024 18:02 collapse

sounds like it’s about to get more intrusive

Rentlar@lemmy.ca on 02 Apr 2024 19:06 collapse

I got a thing that said “Lootboxes!” On the bottom right. I tried ignoring it for a day but that didn’t seem to work. So, I clicked the “Didn’t ask” button. We’ll see how much Discord tries to test me before I jump ship to Matrix or Revolt.

Grunt4019@lemm.ee on 02 Apr 2024 22:59 collapse

I clicked on that, it was actually just an April fools joke, there was nothing to buy.

[deleted] on 02 Apr 2024 23:25 next collapse
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Grunt4019@lemm.ee on 03 Apr 2024 01:33 collapse

Yeah I agree, not defending discord just wanted to point out the April fools joke.

Rentlar@lemmy.ca on 03 Apr 2024 00:41 collapse

Yeah… to me it was just another one of those UI elements (like the Nitro Menu, games, etc.) that I just don’t touch.

Sure it’s an April fools joke, but the prospect of introducing ads seem just as much an April fools as what they did.