Clubhouse what? A new app that is causing a lot of hype on the Internet these days. Keep reading below to find out more about the Clubhouse app and whether it will be the new social media hit that wins the heart of everyone on the Internet.
You've likely seen posts of your social media friends asking for an invitation to Clubhouse. And, now you're probably here on the Internet searching for what the Clubhouse app is and why everybody wants to be on it. Well, you've come to the right place. This article explains exactly what the Clubhouse app does and why it is so popular among Internet users these days.
This new social media networking app is making a lot of noise online. And, some industry experts believe that it's here to stay or even become the latest social media that's going to make it harder for us to put our devices down.
So, let's find out what Clubhouse is and why all your virtual and real-life friends want to be on it.
What is the Clubhouse app?
The Clubhouse is a very young app on the Internet. It's only been around for almost a year, being released in 2020, in April.
Created by Paul Davison and Rohan Seth, two Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, the app quickly created hype on the social media networks market, attracting 1,500 users from around the world only one month after it was released.
1500 users don't sound like a lot. Yet, at that time, the app had a surprising worth of $100 million. Plus, keep in mind that this was only one month after the app appeared on the market. As of December last year, the app already attracted 600,000 users. And, today, the app gets about 2 million active users every week.
But what exactly is it?
Well, Clubhouse is basically an audio-chat format social media platform. It can be difficult to understand exactly how it works if you've never used it, but try to imagine what kind of app we would get if Zoom apps and Spotify's podcast feature would have a baby. Pretty much something like the Clubhouse app.
Now, what can you do on the Clubhouse? Well, you can join audio chat rooms listen to live podcasts, interviews, and conversations, as well as general discussions of people on all types of topics. The topics are your choice, based on your interests.
But, here's the thing, what's truly interesting about this app is that you don't connect just with virtual friends that are basically average Internet users. On Clubhouse, you can have the chance to meet the celebrity or star you fancy the most virtually. We're talking about huge names from different industries like Elon Musk, Kanye West, Kevin Hart, Oprah Winfrey, and many others.
When listening to these huge personalities talking on Clubhouse, users feel like they are in the front row of a TED Talk that would have cost them hundreds of dollars to attend if it wasn't for the Clubhouse app.
What's all the hype about it?
Now, let's skip to the question you likely have since you saw that everybody online is asking for Clubhouse invitations: why does everybody want to be on Clubhouse?
Well, there are several reasons why all Internet users are so interested in joining the app.
First, as we said before, it offers a unique opportunity to users: virtually meet their favorite famous personalities. Users have the chance to listen to business and life advice from top people in many different industries. These fruitful conversations focus on how working hard, making smart investments, and aspiring to retire early can inspire them to become the next leaders in their industries as well.
Honestly, if you're a tech business owner, wouldn't you want to hear advice directly from Elon Musk on how to grow your business and make your idea known worldwide? We're guessing you would. So, that's what Clubhouse offers.
Another major thing that has made everybody hype about being on Clubhouse is particularly the app's exclusivity. To get it, you need to know someone who is already in. It's no secret that consumers these days like things that are exclusive. They want what they don't have and things that others do have. So, from a marketing point of view, the app's exclusivity is precisely what made it so desired by everyone.
The invite-only app has managed to grow in popularity so fast, mainly thanks to the fact that you and all other Internet users saw their virtual peers asking for an invitation to the app at some point. This got people thinking, "If he/she wants to get in so much, it must be something amazing." Quickly, the fear of missing out made you and everybody else start asking for an invitation as well.
How do you get on the app?
As mentioned, to get into Clubhouse, you need to be invited by an already existing user.
So, if you know someone who has managed to get an invitation and start an account there, ask them to send you an invitation if they still have one because every new user only gets two invites, and they only earn more depending on how much they use the app.
Apart from joining the app with an invitation, you can also download the app and sign yourself up on the waiting list. It's a long shot, and you may never actually get admitted to the app, but it's worth trying.
Criticism of Clubhouse
Despite being so popular and creating such hype on the Internet, the Clubhouse app didn't escape the criticism, which grew proportionally with its popularity.
Not long ago, researchers from Stanford found security and privacy issues in the Clubhouse app. Some of the security and privacy concerns included recording voice notes, access to the user's contact list, and the fact that the app's privacy policy is only available in English, which automatically lets users who don't speak English disinformed.
Another controversial discussion about the app is the fact that the app fails to handle hate speech and fake news. More precisely, there have been complaints regarding anti-Semitism, racism, and sexism discussions in certain chat rooms. As a response, the app developers announced that they would make temporary recordings of the discussions to get back to them in case a complaint is made.
