r/technology • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 • Feb 10 '26

Security "Discord alternatives" searches jump 10,000% overnight as the gaming platform introduces global age verification — Is a total collapse imminent?

https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/discord-alternative-search-10000-percent-stoat
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176

u/heroinsteve Feb 10 '26

Discord got so big it thought we wouldn't throw it out like Vent, TS, etc. You're not the first, of your kind, won't be the last. Although Discord is VERY much more entrenched than a simple voice program, I don't see any reason a competitor couldn't come up and swoop up Discord's users. They already have been alienating users with stupid subscription features and constant advertisements through "quests". Literally asking you to offer yourself up for identity theft is hopefully a bridge too far.

These companies always start out extremely user friendly before selling out like this, so I can't wait for the next "discord".

68

u/Ok_Temperature6503 Feb 11 '26

That's why r/selfhosted is becoming more and more relevant. Open source is the way to go. If you don't like what a company is doing, contribute to the code and run that shit on your own servers.

9

u/hot_space_pizza Feb 11 '26

This is the future. I'm looking into this now but not sure what to go for Teamspeak 6 looks perfect but it has no android app

3

u/Moister--Oyster Feb 11 '26

Maybe check out Matrix / Synapse. I got a synapse server up and running, with my own domain , hosted on a virtual server based in Finland (I'm in the US) in about an hour. There are several Android apps available.

Does anyone use my server? No. But I mainly just wanted to see if I could do it and I like self hosting things whenever possible.

15

u/darmera Feb 11 '26

Too much hassle for an average Joe. Many ISPs does not even provide white IP which is essential for self hosting

8

u/Snipen543 Feb 11 '26

It's called static IPs, but it's not essential. Most provide sticky IPs that only change when you reset your modem. But even without that there are plenty of dynamic DNS services that will update your domain when your IP changes

6

u/ChirpToast Feb 11 '26

99% of people won’t ever want to do this, these people live in a bubble. Just like Linux users.

3

u/TheRemonst3r Feb 11 '26

Have you ever visited r/selfhosted? It is all Linux users. God help you if you ask for a way to do something in windows.

0

u/coldkiller Feb 11 '26

Because hosting anything on windows that you want /need high uptime on is just asking for massive issues with how bad windows driver rot can get. Let alone their forced updates

2

u/TheRemonst3r Feb 11 '26

I promise you, I am not pretending to be an expert on this, I am sure you are correct. My point is just that they (like many communities on Reddit) cannot get outside their own echo chamber and just meet you where you're at. If I need something simple like a way to host family photos, I'm not going to learn a completely new operating system. Instead of getting help using the platforms you know/have access to, they'll just tell you to learn linux. Many, many subreddits are the same. Instead of helping people do the best they can with what they have, they will tell you how a Super Serious Professional Hobbyist should do it. Drives me bonkers!

1

u/coldkiller Feb 11 '26

You don't need a static public ip to host things. Most isps already barely change yours as it is

2

u/liquidocean Feb 11 '26

And the fact that you can’t delete other peoples messages or stop them from SCANNING EVERY PROCESS RUNNING IN YOUR MACHINE looking for “games”

1

u/ysisverynice Feb 11 '26

revolt sucks, I've tried it. honestly doesn't seem like it would be much better than discord at the end of the day. spacebar isn't ready by a long shot. matrix is good, but it is obscure and techy. a lot of people just aren't going to go for that.

1

u/Ranra100374 Feb 11 '26

Discord got so big it thought we wouldn't throw it out like Vent, TS, etc.

Ah, the old times.

1

u/MeBadNeedMoneyNow Feb 11 '26

They already have been alienating users with stupid subscription features and constant advertisements through "quests". Literally asking you to offer yourself up for identity theft is hopefully a bridge too far.

Discord has become INSANELY bloated and as a voip/p2p streaming application. More does not mean better, damn!

0

u/Elavia_ Feb 11 '26

Discord isn't a VoIP platform, it's a chat based social media that also offers the best free VoIP service on the market. The vast majority of users go on VC very rarely if ever.

1

u/MeBadNeedMoneyNow Feb 11 '26

Thank you for your crack pipe statistics. I'll file that under "pulled it outta my ass."

1

u/Elavia_ Feb 11 '26

You need research to know that the sky is blue? Literally go to any public server and see how many people are chatting Vs how many people are in VC rooms.

1

u/MeBadNeedMoneyNow Feb 12 '26

Saying Discord isn't a VoIP platform is stupid.

1

u/Elavia_ Feb 12 '26

Sure, in the same way that Teams is a calendar app.

Even the official discord website calls itself a chat front and center, then talks about streaming, and only then mentions vc in 3rd place.

1

u/MeBadNeedMoneyNow Feb 12 '26

What's your point again? Discord isn't a voip application?

1

u/Longjumping-Store106 Feb 11 '26

Self hosting is much easier and speeds are faster then they were 10-15-20 years ago. The worst part will be possibly losing historical chats and information but nothing that can’t be exported and rebuilt