How Discord Has Become More Than Just a Game Chat App

When Jason Citron created Discord, a video game chatting app in 2015, his goal was to help gamers communicate over text and voice calls with each other. But the app has since expanded to become a way for young people to socialize and build communities online — with more than 150 million people now using it each month. The platform has moved far beyond video games, with music aficionados, students and cryptocurrency enthusiasts among its growing ranks of users.

Discord has had to grapple with the same thorny questions facing other social media platforms, such as regulating speech and safeguarding against harassment. The company allows users to chat anonymously and leaves the task of enforcing community standards to individual server owners, who can deputize moderators to enforce rules like no profanity or graphic content. That has led to a “Lord of the Flies” feel for some servers, where groups of young people create online societies with their own custom rules and norms.

But some of the larger Discord servers have grown more organized and serious, such as Clement Leveau’s Kanye server, a community of more than 58,000 members that discusses the eponymous rapper’s music and culture with a focus on positivity. Mr. Leveau, a New York City college student, wields ultimate authority on the server, with the power to ban or jail anyone who violates rules, and to appoint moderators to ensure his server remains safe for its users.

Other more structured communities are growing even more specialized, such as a slew of Discord servers focused on anime and cosplay. With channels ranging from #anime-memes to the “coolest” cosplay, there’s something for everyone in this niche community. And for those who want to add some glamor to their desktop, the servers also have a section dedicated to wallpaper.