CLUBHOUSE

Available in iOS

The Apple-exclusive app has recently gained popularity in the past few weeks. But while you may be seeing a bunch of people posting on their feeds about the new networking app, there might still be a few of you who are confused as to what it actually is. Its description in the App Store touts it as a “space for casual, drop-in audio conversations”. It’s like you’re listening to a live podcast. Wait a minute, didn’t we have this sort of thing before? You know, when people talk live but it’s only audio and you usually listen from your car, and they even play music sometimes?

PROS

While it is funny to think that we’ve basically gone full-circle from radios to an app that sort of lets us listen to various radio talkshows, the big difference is that anyone can host a room to talk about anything. That means you could host a room and talk about anything mundane or someone like Elon Musk could host a room and talk with the CEO of the Robinhood app (yes, the very same app Redditors used to save GameStop) and even field questions. In fact, it’s Musk’s appearance that put the app’s popularity over the top. The app’s exclusivity doesn’t just stop at the fact that it’s invite-only and limited to Apple, but its rooms permanently close once the conversation is done. You can’t go back and listen to it days later. If you want to join a room and listen to the conversation, you would have to catch it while it’s live, kinda like what we used to do with radios. Like I said, full-circle.

CONS

Clubhouse’s exclusivity means that only a limited number of people can access it, namely owners of Apple devices and people who actually have friends who can send them an invite. The latter part may not be too difficult though. Within a minute or so of posting on my FB that I was looking for an invite, a friend sent me one, so there’s a good chance someone in your circle can hook you up. However, its exclusivity may also be the only reason why it’s become popular. There’s nothing like feeling you’re part of some “special” group because you have access to an invite-only app, but that might be the only thing Clubhouse will have going for it. Remember Vero? And if you don’t, that’s exactly my point.