We’re all spending a lot of time online these days, and there have never been more platforms for people to connect and share their thoughts. Whether it’s long-standing sites like Facebook and Twitter, image-based apps like Snapchat or Instagram, or video-sharing platforms like Tiktok, there’s something for everyone.
What is Clubhouse?
Clubhouse is an iPhone only social media app where users share audio clips instead of text posts. The company describes itself as a new type of social project based on voice where people everywhere can talk, tell stories, develop ideas, deepen friendships and meet interesting new people.
When users enter the app, they can choose between different virtual “rooms” to enter. When a user enters a room, the audio automatically turns on. The creator of a room decides who can speak, and interested users can raise their hands to join the discussion. According to CNBC, the experience is “like walking into a conference room where a panel or Q&A is happening.”
On their site, Clubhouse says that people have used the app to communicate about things like political issues, day-to-day life and entertainment. People host book clubs, fireside chats, passionate debates, and comedy shows. It’s a place to meet with friends and with new people around the world — to tell stories, ask questions, debate, learn and have impromptu conversations on thousands of different topics.”
Clubhouse burst into the mainstream recently when Elon Musk hosted an audio-chat on Clubhouse with Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev. The event maxed out the app conversation room limits and was live-streamed to YouTube. It helped propel Clubhouse to the top of the startup charts and sparked a scramble for invitations. As of 1 February 2021, Clubhouse has 2 million users and has announced forthcoming new features, like tipping, tickets, or subscriptions, to directly pay creators on the app. Having raised new funding since its launch, Clubhouse is now valued at $1bn, and is considered a Unicorn startup like Airbnb, Uber, and SpaceX.. (In comparison, Facebook has 2.7 billion users and Twitter has 330 million.)
How can you join Clubhouse?
Right now, Clubhouse prides itself on exclusivity — you have to be invited to join the platform by an existing user.
But their website offers hope for those interested in joining: A company statement says that they are “building Clubhouse for everyone and working to make it available to the world as quickly as possible.” It’s still unclear when people will be able to join without an invite.
iPhone users can download the app and reserve a username without an invitation. However, they still can’t access the app or the chat rooms.
What makes Clubhouse different from other social media platforms?
The main things that distinguish Clubhouse from other social media sites, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more, is the audio-based format. On their website, the company explained that the audio-only, camera-free environment is a very special medium.
You don’t have to worry about eye contact, what you’re wearing or where you are, the company wrote on their website. The intonation, inflection, and emotion conveyed through voice allow you to pick up on nuance and form uniquely human connections with others. You can still challenge each other and have tough conversations — but with voice, there is often an ability to build more empathy.
Unfortunately, I’m STILL waiting for my invitation!!!
