The use of "fake deafen" plugins on Discord—tools that display the "deafened" icon to others while allowing the user to still hear audio—highlights a fascinating tension between digital privacy, social etiquette, and the limitations of platform design. The Motivation: Social Friction vs. Privacy
Function: Discord stops all audio output to your speakers/headphones.
Status: Discord displays a grey icon on your avatar and removes the green "Speaking" indicator.