Item — HN Reader

Discord still forces me to install the mobile app and does not allow using the web app on mobile devices. Isn't that a very dark pattern?

I'm by no means a "warrior", but I deleted my Quora account for the same reason, and will not "embrace" Discord until they fix this.

1 comments

They'll literally never 'fix' that, users having the app is essential to their model.

I agree about not "fixing" it. But can you elaborate a bit on the model thing?

When a user installs an app that platform can then summon that user on demand. That gives you something like 1000x as much user retention and 'callbackability' as a passive 'location' that the user has to consciously visit.

Same reason every store wants you to sign up for their credit card or join their mailing list etc.