In our editors Discord is everyday – a simple tool for fast communication, text coordination and loose talk about technology. However, we have never imagined that the same application on which we are planning further releases of the magazine can service as a virtual parliament and a place where citizens will elect a fresh government.
And yet, in Nepal, something that sounds like a storyline from the show "Black Mirror" happened, but it's not the storyline of the SF, it's the real storyline.
It all started with a political earthquake. After weeks of violent protests, the Nepalese government was forced to resign, creating a power vacuum and uncertainty about the future of the country. At a time erstwhile conventional institutions failed, young activists decided to take matters into their own hands, utilizing the tools they know best – social media.
Their choice fell on Discord. Over 145 000 people have been gathered in the “Youth Against Corruption” server in a fewer days. Text and voice channels, usually vibrant during the video games, turned into virtual parliament gathering rooms. It was there that they discussed, argued and, most importantly, organised surveys which were expected to simulate real elections and indicate the favourite for the fresh Prime Minister's position. As 1 of the participants put it: "Nepal Parliament is now Discord".
As a consequence of these digital primaries, the absolute favourite turned out to be Sushila Karki, erstwhile president of the ultimate Court. Her popularity on the Discord was so overwhelming that she became a key argument in talks with another political forces. shortly after, she was officially appointed fresh Prime Minister, becoming not only the first female in this post, but also, as it was called on the network, “the first planet leader chosen by Discord”.
History from Nepal is simply a remarkable sign of our time. It shows how Generation Z, raised in the digital world, can creatively adapt well-known technologies for purposes that their creators never dreamed of. What is simply a convenient communicator for us can become a tool for others to build a fresh democratic future. The question remains: is this a one-time incident, or have we just seen the announcement of the "digital revolutions" era?
Discord with handoff support. The app facilitates switching between iPhone, iPad and Mac
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