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Gas, an app that teens use to send each other anonymous compliments, has exploded in popularity in the last few months.

This rapid rise in popularity has now culminated in an acquisition from Discord, the popular chat application that has been attempting to branch out from its niche in the gaming industry.

If you’re new to Gas, here are some key points to know:

• Gas reports that it has over 1M daily active users

• It does not help you find cheap gasoline. :) The “Gas” name comes from “gassing up” your friends with compliments.

• Similar to YikYak, the posts are anonymous. But unlike YikYak, the posts are meant to be positive. This is achieved largely by focusing on pre-written polls instead of open-ended posts. According to Today.com, the questions “range from thoughtful to flirty.”

• Users find their friends by joining their high school or syncing their contacts.

• A popular rumor about Gas being tied to human trafficking was circulating a few months ago, but it was reportedly unfounded.

• The app was created by a former Facebook employee who previously created a similar app called “tbh.”

The new social media app Gas @gasappteam founded by @nikitabier has exploded in popularity among teens with users only able to send anonymous compliments and positive messages to others. @WatchSavannah reports on its impact. https://t.co/oaejVWsdTb pic.twitter.com/a56qOduKVM

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 10, 2023

According to The Verge, the terms of Discord’s acquisition have not been made public. But we do know the Gas team will be joining Discord and keeping the app running as a standalone app.

Why it Matters

Both Gas and Discord have been getting attention from those who try to predict the future of social:

• “How Discord (somewhat accidentally) invented the future of the internet” (Protocol)

• “What Gas, the Hot New App With Teens, Says About Social Media’s Future” (WSJ)

With these two upstart companies joining forces, we likely have not seen the last of their names in the headlines.

For now, Gas is only in high schools and Discord remains very gamer-focused. But things change fast.

Remember when Facebook was only available at Harvard?