A new app called clubhouse has caused a storm on social media. The clubhouse app, developed by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Paul Davison and former Google employee Rohan Seth, is based on the audio chatting idea, partly talkback radio, and partly conference call.
While the app was launched in 2020, it gained attention through Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s recent releases. Musk’s conversation jumped abruptly to download the app.
How does the clubhouse work?
The clubhouse creates a space where people can meet hosts, students within the app community, and in some cases, can easily engage in conversations. When the users open the app, they get a list of rooms and a list that shows who is in each room. You can join an existing chat room or create your own room by inviting new people and starting a new conversation. All rooms have moderators, speakers, and students. Mediators control who gets speech privileges, although students can “raise their hands” to speak.
There are always dozens of conversations going on simultaneously, so users can jump between topics and speakers based on their interests. The clubhouse rooms are hosted by experts, lighting fixtures, celebrities, venture capitalists, journalists, and more.
Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have both spoken at clubhouse calls in recent weeks. Inside Journalist Margaux MacColl even stated that Elon Musk’s presence triggered a “black market” for clubhouse invitees as aspiring users join the exclusive community.
Who’s in the clubhouse?
The app gained fame after celebrities such as Drake, Virgil Abloh, and even Oprah. The app gets 10.1 million users and has expanded with popular podcast hosts and social media stars. The uniqueness of the clubhouse provides a sense of security for high-profile users and allows for interesting conversations. Due to the short-lived nature of the app, unlike Instagram Live, celebrities do not have to worry about their security.
Can I join?
You must be invited to the app by someone who is already a member. If you receive the coveted invitation, you can extend the invitation to up to four friends. Like dating apps, anyone can download the app, but you will be added to a reasonably ineffective queue. Clubhouse CEO Paul Davidson has promised that the app will eventually open to everyone, including Android users who are not currently invited to the party.
Not for everybody
The main limitation is that the user must connect live because conversations are not saved. This, along with the fact that it is still only an invitation, means that whoever wants to join must be invited by someone who already has an account. You can still download the app and add your name to the queue, but there is no guarantee that you will ever get such an invitation.
The clubhouse is currently available only to iPhone users. However, the clubhouse CEO said the app would eventually open to everyone, including Android users.
However, many app users have dealt with harassment on this platform. The company is essentially criticized for its content moderation policy or even basic security features, such as reporting blocking or harassment.
A security research report by the Stanford Internet Observatory (SIO) found that some vulnerabilities were discovered in the clubhouse, leading the Chinese government to spy on espionage. The report states that a Shanghai-based company called Agora Inc. will provide the back-end infrastructure for the clubhouse.
What’s next for the clubhouse
He built the clubhouse reputation with talks organized by big names such as Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerberg, and Allier Musk. The app is already considered a raw material between Silicon Valley and fun personalities. Despite being established for less than a year, it achieved a valuation of over a billion dollars.
The clubhouse is planned to expand and eventually take its place among other major social sites such as Facebook or Twitter. However, he, too, has to face controversy around the stage.
Some journalists at the clubhouse, especially women, spoke about the goal of intimidating and harassing others on stage. Others saw the room as anti-Semitism, racism, and denials of COVID-19.
Although the clubhouse has already gained a strong reputation, it looks forward to the future. It has been planned that users can subscribe to events, earn money through the app by getting hold and tips. And the more people are invited, the more certain it is to grow.
What does the Clubhouse Offer?
There are some hurdles to signing in to this app because you have to find an iOS user and an invite if you want to join it.
Everyone only gets two invitations when joining the clubhouse, so if you want to request an invitation for yourself, you probably have to ask a close friend who is ready to invite you.
However, you can get more invitations from the clubhouse if you are active on your platform, such as listening to a room, hosting a room, talking, and so on.
Now the user interface of the app is quite simple; you can find conversations of interest and connect with exciting rooms.
Once you join a room, you can also add your friends or stand your hand to participate in the conversation. If a room has not started yet, you can add the event to your Apple or Google Calendar.
To create a room, you can create a theme, select privacy settings and add your friends. As a host, you can control what is discussed in the room, and students can raise their hands if they want to talk.
The most important thing that separates the clubhouse from social networks such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook is that you do not have to look on your screen to participate once you join a room. Theoretically, one can more fully deal with what is going on in front of them while interacting in the application discussion room.
Unlike most social media apps, where you can retake the news of the day retrospectively, the clubhouse is where you need to escape from behind. None of the conversations will be recorded, and chats will not be available once the user exited.