In recent months, a new social networking site is catching the attention of online users known as “Clubhouse.” Many celebrities are making the exclusive audio-only app famous and it offers a different take on how people can socialise. 

What exactly is it and why is it becoming the next big thing? 

What is Clubhouse?

Clubhouse, as mentioned above, is an exclusive social networking app that allows people to connect to others through audio alone. Released online in March 2020, the same time COVID-19 struck the entire world. 

To describe Clubhouse, imagine it to be like TedTalk but with a participating audience that can ask questions on a podcast that you can choose to participate in or remain in the shadows. 

Who are the Founders of Clubhouse?

A private company known as Alpha Exploration Company by Rohan Seth and Paul Davison created the app. After two months of the app’s opening, the company immediately had gotten various investors clamouring to get into the app, starting with Andreessen Horowitz. 

How does Clubhouse work?

When you get into the app, you can look into various topics currently available to listen. When you are on these pages, you can listen to the discussions and follow the people involved in them. Users can also open their clubhouse rooms where they can speak to their contacts as if they are talking on the phone. 

Why People Love Clubhouse?

There are many reasons why its users love Clubhouse. First, the conversation rooms made in the app are not permanent so the room will disappear once everyone leaves. The app also does not record the chats and you can invite as many as 5,000 people in the chat. 

Furthermore, it makes the user feel comfortable as it makes them feel like they are on a phone call to several people. Everything is done in real-time and there are no transitions and other effects. Users can even recommend someone to be the speaker when they pop into the room. If one wishes to speak, the host of the room can let you participate. 

The diversity of the user group means that, there is no restriction on the speakers by locality or time zone to participate and that creates a wider and more inclusive conversation across the globe. The ease of use also means that you are in the comfort of your own space without having to travel to attend a live presentation or trying to juggle your schedule to join in the conversation.  

Personally, I love that at every hour, some things are interesting to listen. Whether it is parenting group discussion on the merits of respectful parenting or listening to a tech founder pitching his ideas, Clubhouse is a great place to learn something new while rubbing shoulders with everyone in the room. 

Who is in Clubhouse?

So far, I have bumped into Elon Musk, Nuseir Yassin from Nas Daily, Diane von Furstenberg, and Cheryl Goh from Grab. 

The excitement of getting to exchange thoughts, let alone ideas with successful people entice me to keep returning to the Clubhouse.  Oh, the vibe is real and you can feel that people are excited to connect with each other in the room.

In addition, the conversation is happening in real-time, so if you want to speak, ‘raise your hand’ and the host can choose to invite you.

How can you get a Clubhouse invite?

Currently, Clubhouse is still an invite-only app and exclusively available for iOS. To get an invite, you need to get an invitation from an existing member. An existing member can get two invites when they are new and continuously get more invites if they stay active on the app. However, if you do not know anyone, download the app, choose a handle, and put your name on the waiting list. Clubhouse has announced they will open the app eventually to a larger audience in the future. 

Conclusion

Whenever the app opens, it is important to remember that you should be careful when using any social media apps. Since it is still new, guidelines are still in the process of implementation to take place for topics that need moderation. It is also still in development so there will be kinks here and there once you do get an invite which can be frustrating. However, it is undeniable that this app can help you build a nice network of friends who share the same interests as you and learn a new way of networking at the same time.

Call out Invite: If you are a Clubhouse member and would like to explore setting up a room with me to talk about a topic that interests both of us; just drop me an email at kally@MiddleMe.net.

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