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    Why Does Discord Not Use Ads? And Why Is Microsoft Interested? We Asked Discord's CEO

    The social networking app has exploded in popularity during the pandemic, far outgrowing its gaming roots. Now, Microsoft is in talks to acquire Discord for $10 billion.
    by Bobby Allyn Apr 01, 2021 6 minutes
    Discord chief executive Jason Citron talked to NPR about his chat app and his plans. Discord's active monthly users have doubled in the pandemic and Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy the company.

    Social networking platform Discord is having a moment.

    What started as a community for gamers has in the past year become a hub for virtually everything: conferences, karaoke, book clubs, group therapy, homework help, sneaker trading and analyzing Wall Street stocks.

    It doubled its users during the pandemic, with nearly 150 million worldwide now using the chat app every month.

    And now, the rapid growth has caught the attention of Microsoft, which is reportedly in talks to acquire Discord for $10 billion.

    Discord is not supported by advertisements, instead relying on subscriptions for add-ons to the free service like better streaming quality and niftier emojis to generate revenue. Those wary about the intrusive data-tracking practices of many leading social media apps say not being carefully monitored by advertisers is a major draw.

    Discord CEO Jason Citron talked to NPR about the company breaking out of its gaming roots during the pandemic, the future of the app and the challenges ahead. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

    What is Discord?

    Discord is a place for people

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