It all started in 2020 when two guys created the app Clubhouse. By May, it was valued at $100 million, and it only had 1,500 users. Now, 8 months on, people are starting to get FOMO about the mysterious new app. But what is Clubhouse? Why do we all want an invite so bad?
What is Clubhouse?
Clubhouse is an audio-based social media, and it’s invite-only. They’ve described themselves as ‘a new type of social product based on voice that allows people everywhere to talk, tell stories, develop ideas, deepen friendships and meet interesting new people’.
Essentially, you can join random chats on different subjects, and partake in what are basically live, free-flowing podcasts. You can listen, or throw in ideas. It’s like a party! Or, believe it or not, a clubhouse. These discussions can be on anything – politics, comic books, even just gossip! Some feel more like friendly chats, some are debates, and some are kind of like Q and As.
But, if you and the 2 friend you’re initially allowed to invite want to have a private discussion, you can lock rooms too. It’s all up to you. However, there’s not really much need to! There’s a rule against any recording of conversations, and the audios aren’t saved.
One thing that comes up in the Clubhouse reviews, again and again, is that it feels like a truly social kind of social media.
But who is on it?
Oprah, Kevin Hart, Drake, Chris Rock and even Ashton Kutcher. These guys, amongst other celebs, are one of the reasons people are desperate to get on board! You get to join conversations with your favourite celebrities – without even leaving the house.
Are there any issues?
The lack of moderation, despite supposed moderators being onboard, is alarming people. There have been reports of homophobia, antisemitism and racism all going unchecked and unpunished. Vanity actually said in December that the app had ‘become a haven for the powerful to flirt with misogyny and racism’.
The app’s team has, of course, responded to this. They stated that Clubhouse and it’s founders ‘unequivocally condemns all forms of racism, hate speech, and abuse’.
With every new thing comes some teething issues, so hopefully this will be a thing of the past by the time Clubhouse is readily available. We can’t wait to get involved, can you?
