Discord’s latest update has introduced a new feature that’s sparking mixed reactions among users. If you’ve opened the app recently, you might have noticed a new layer of transparency added to your contact list. Beyond just seeing who’s playing what, Discord now reveals how long your friends have been immersed in their games and how frequently they’ve logged hours in the past month.
For instance, you might see that your friend has been on a 24-day streak in Roblox, or that another contact just completed a ten-hour marathon in World of Warcraft. These details are highlighted with badges, making it impossible to ignore just how deep into a game someone is. The update also allows you to react to your friends’ gaming activities directly through the interface, using emojis to express your thoughts on their dedication (or obsession).
However, the feature doesn’t stop tracking when your friends go offline. Discord continues to showcase their gaming history over the past 30 days, which means you can see that your buddies were playing Fortnite together three days ago—despite their claims of being “too busy” to hang out. This added visibility might lead to more than just friendly banter; it could potentially cause friction among friends who now have proof of each other’s true priorities.
Recognizing the potential for discomfort, Discord has included an option to disable this feature. Users who prefer to keep their gaming habits under wraps can simply head to the settings menu, navigate to “Privacy and Security,” and turn off the “Activity Status” option. This will prevent others from seeing what you’ve been up to in the gaming world, allowing you to maintain a bit more privacy in your digital life.
Whether this feature enhances social gaming or leads to unwanted scrutiny is still up for debate. As with any new social tool, its impact will largely depend on how users choose to engage with it—and whether they appreciate their every move in the gaming realm being tracked and shared with their circle.