Discord has announced the acquisition of Gas, an up-and-coming social media app for teens that allows them to share compliments with one another anonymously.
The app allows users to sign up with their school, add friends and then anonymously answer polls about them. The bait? All the questions are compliment-based, fostering a positive social media atmosphere to bring teens up instead of tearing them down.
The Origin of the Anonymous Compliment Social Media App
Gas was founded by former Facebook product manager Nikita Bier who previously founded a similar app called tbh which Bier subsequently sold to Meta in 2017 (tbh has since been shut down).
The app quickly proved itself to be a rising force, regularly ranking in the App Store’s 10 most downloaded list in the past few months. In fact, it reached 7.4 million installs since its launch in the summer of 2022.
Gas has also reached $7 million in consumer spending since it was launched, mostly thanks to its monetization system that does not rely on ads. Users are given the option to pay $7 a week for “God Mode,” which gives them hints about their anonymous poll voters and other bonus features in the app.
The compliment-based app has also proven to be a refreshing change compared to existing social media apps used by teens, such as Snapchat, due to its focus on positivity and community support.
“We’re always working to create an inclusive world where no one feels like an outsider and we’re excited to welcome Gas to the Discord community as our next step to fulfilling that vision,” stated Discord in an official company blog post.
The Acquisition of Gas
In recent months, Discord has been attempting to expand beyond its gaming roots. Its new audio feature “Stage Channels” is just one example of how Discord expands its horizons. The acquisition of Gas could be a strategic move in Discord’s expansion while targeting younger audiences.
“Its tremendous success shows the opportunity that exists in creating a playful yet meaningful place for young people. Gas’ founders have a proven track record of creating exciting apps and experiences, and we’re thrilled to work with their team to take things to the next level,” said Discord.
With time, Gas may even prove to be an alternative to Snapchat. Despite lacking a direct messaging platform right now, the partnership between Gas and Discord could give the teen social media app everything that it is missing.
“At this time, Gas will continue as its own standalone app and the Gas team will be joining Discord to help our efforts to continue to grow across new and core audiences,” Discord added.
