In just under a year, the social networking app Clubhouse has grown to over 3.7 million users. On clubhouse, you can hop around various audio chat rooms with topics ranging from crypto to stand-up comedy. Clubhouse is great for tuning in and out of debates between some of the world’s smartest people while doing chores or light work. Alternatively, you can listen to discussions on dating or personal branding, and even start a room with a few friends. Clubhouse makes it possible to forge new connections through live conversation— even as we all hide from the plague.
One of Clubhouse’s distinctive characteristics is its exclusivity. To create an account, one must be invited by an existing user. This feature gives the app’s creators two benefits, FOMO driven buzz and a safeguard against heavy traffic overloading the servers. (Note: I have a few invites so if anyone’s interested you can message me.)
Unlike many apps that rely on recommendation algorithms to keep users logged in, the driving force behind Clubhouse is its influencers. The key to gaining followers on the app is to simply provide valuable perspectives, or at least be entertaining. Conversations are not recorded by the app and disappear once they are completed, additionally, there are no transcripts or comment sections. This has invited criticism from some fact-checkers concerned about the spread of misinformation, as well as those worried that there is “no path to accountability” for those that break the code of conduct. Indeed, it is practically impossible for anyone besides a room’s moderators to censor speakers, which is surely why China has recently banned it. But as of today (February 20, 2021) the app’s aura of non-surveillance has been broken by an anonymous third-party website that has managed to begin rerouting and recording all of the app’s audio and made it possible for anyone in the world to listen to any clubhouse conversation (looking at you, Android users.) It will be very interesting to see what the long-term effects of this new website are to the app’s environment but in the meantime, Clubhouse remains one of the most healthy and uncontrolled online platforms.
I have recently been hearing a lot about Clubhouse. From my understanding, it is something completely different than most social platforms and has a massive amount of potential for users to network on. It does share some similarities to Snapchat in the sense that once you send your photo, or in this case, once you have your conversation, it is gone, there is a powerful sense of privacy. Because of the talks of toxicity within social media, this is a breath of fresh air for me. Clubhouse seems more authentic and a place where your voice will be heard.
Hi Eliana,
I really enjoyed your article discussing the new social media platform, Clubhouse. I just recently joined the app and find that it is unlike most existing forms of social networking I have been apart of because it brings in people from all over to discuss interesting topics and current events. To me, it seems like a new-age public broadcasting platform for everyone to have a voice. Thank you for sharing and keep up the good work!