Discord begins testing premium subscriptions in creator economy push

FILE PHOTO: Discord app logo is seen displayed in this illustration taken March 29, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

(Reuters) - Chat platform Discord will launch a pilot test to let content creators sell subscriptions for access to their online communities, the company said on Tuesday, as it aims to keep up with the burgeoning creator economy.

Social media personalities in worlds as varied as entertainment, fashion and cryptocurrencies are increasingly earning money from their fans by gatekeeping content behind subscriptions sold through sites like Patreon or charging for access to their YouTube videos.