Discord, the widely-used chat platform with 150 million active users and 4 billion daily minutes of conversations, promises to “create space for everyone to find belonging.” However, recent updates are making it harder for users to feel comfortable, as new features like the Apps & Commands and Gift buttons have sparked frustration and confusion.
What’s Causing the Frustration?
In its 2024 update, Discord introduced two new icons in the chat bar that have become the focus of user discontent. The Apps & Commands button allows users to launch various apps directly from the chat, including bots for shared music or gaming experiences and activity apps for real-time collaboration during chats.
The Gift button, however, has been particularly problematic. This feature enables users to send a Nitro membership to a friend, costing between €34.99 and €99.99.
Nitro perks include larger file sharing, universal emoji usage, and enhanced streaming capabilities. However, many users feel that this button clutters the chat interface and is unnecessary since Nitro can also be purchased through the app’s settings.
User Backlash
The update quickly drew negative feedback, particularly on Reddit, where users voiced their frustration over the intrusive placement of these buttons. The main complaint is that the buttons interfere with the chat experience, with many users accidentally pressing them while trying to access other functions like sending a GIF or attaching a file.
On smaller screens, the buttons don’t disappear while typing, obstructing the view of the text being written. One user even shared an incident where she accidentally purchased a three-year Nitro plan for a friend after dozing off with her phone unlocked.
Users have flooded Discord with requests to remove the buttons or at least provide an option to disable them. So far, the only advice available is to use older Discord versions on Android, avoid the buttons, or quit the platform altogether.
What’s Next?
Despite the outcry, Discord has yet to respond to the wave of complaints. It remains unclear whether the company will make any changes in response to user feedback. In the meantime, users are encouraged to continue voicing their concerns in the hope of drawing the developers’ attention to the issues and prompting a resolution.
