Amidst anti-corruption protests in Nepal, youth are using Discord for political discussions. Initially developed for gaming, this app has now become a platform for social and political debate. Through it, young people are openly discussing prime ministerial selection and government policies, thereby increasing digital political activism.
Discord App: Amidst recent anti-corruption protests in Nepal, the younger generation is becoming active in political discussions by using the Discord app. Following widespread discontent against the government in Nepal and a ban on 26 social media apps, Discord has emerged as a secure platform where young people are openly expressing their opinions on prime ministerial selection and policies. Developed in 2015 primarily for gaming, this app has now carved out a significant role for itself in social and political debates, leading to a rapid increase in digital political activism in the country.
What is Discord and Why Did it Become Popular?
Discord is not an ordinary social media platform. It was specifically created in 2015 for gamers to facilitate easy chat while they played. It was developed by Stanislav Vishnevsky and Jason Citron, and in its first year of launch, it garnered over 25 million users. Its popularity grew even further among Gen Z during the pandemic. Once used exclusively during gaming, the app is now also being utilized for general conversations and discussions on shared interests by creating various servers.
How to Use Discord?
To join Discord, one needs to download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and create an account. After this, users can create their own servers or join existing ones.
A Discord server can be viewed as a large online community, within which multiple channels can be created. Text, videos, and pictures can be shared on these channels. However, while each server can accommodate a maximum of 500,000 members, only 250,000 people can be active at any given time.
Discord and Political Debate in Nepal
In Nepal, Discord is no longer just a gaming app. It has become a safe haven for the younger generation, where they can openly debate the government and, according to rumors, are even expressing their views on issues like prime ministerial selection. This platform has given a new dimension to political and social discourse.
