Clubhouse is taking the world by storm
NEW social media platforms are popping up all over the place. Some of them have been around for a while, like MeWe and Parler, but thanks to the outcry about WhatsApp’s privacy policy and some pretty dodgy policies by big tech companies in general, consumer outrage has resulted in shopping around for alternatives.
Still very new, Clubhouse was launched in April 2020 by Alpha Exploration Co, based in California.
Clubhouse says on their new user guide that “it is a place for casual, drop-in audio chats. When you open the app you can see ‘rooms’ full of people talking – all open, so you can hop in and out, exploring different conversations. 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.”
The user interface when onboarding Clubhouse is simple and easy to follow. A few clicks of a button, with very few personal details required – your name, surname and cell number – and you are in.
I was dropped an invitation to Clubhouse through Instant Messenger from a friend and joined on January 30. I’ve always been an early adopter of “tech” products, platforms and apps, so I was excited to explore this invite-only social media app.
I fired it up on my iOS device and was catapulted into a conversation with some very interesting people. As a drop-in audio platform downloaded from the App store and currently for iPhone users only, conversations are raw, uncut and authentic. Clubhouse brings all listeners into a space where connections become intimate, personal and genuine.
Limited to 5 000 people in a room, Clubhouse provides the opportunity for any user to be a speaker and so any member can connect with celebrities, influencers, entrepreneurs, billionaires and musicians.
Elon Musk’s recent drop-in on the platform started a frenzy and had a “room” full in no time.
I’ve dropped into rooms with laughter, yoga meditation, stand-up comedy, self-help tutorials, and general chats.
You can quietly exit and jump into another room, as well as raise your hand to ask questions.