Free voice-based social media platform
Nowadays, more and more social networking apps are making waves, and a lot of them are offering something new. Among these emerging platforms is Clubhouse. Developed by Alpha Exploration Co., this free software allows users to chat with others in real-time, share their stories, and collaborate on ideas. However, what makes it different from other similar platforms is that it uses voice instead of text and videos. It is like a big conference call, which you can join and leave at any time.
How do you get into the Clubhouse?
Social media apps tend to measure their success through their number of members. Indeed, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter hold the reign because they have millions of users, and this is largely thanks to their easy sign-up process. Clubhouse works the opposite. It does not allow anyone to join by simply creating an account. The app is an invite-only platform, meaning you cannot be a member unless someone who has an account brings you in.
If you don’t have an invite from current members, don’t fret. You can use the exclusive side-door option and put your name on the app’s waiting list. You can do so by downloading the app and reserving your username. The app will then see if you have friends who are already in the app and notify them of your application. The member can then waive you through to become part of the community.
Every new member gets two invites upon successful application. You can then use send these invites to your friends so they, too, can be a part of the Clubhouse community. You can earn more invite credits by joining conversations and following rooms and other users. The more you use the app, the more invites you can earn.
What can you do in the Clubhouse?
The Clubhouse is an audio-only social media platform. Unlike other apps, there are no pictures or video that you can browse through. What you will see, instead, is a page full of conversation topics. In each topic, you will find people who are interested in the same thing. You can then follow these people. The more topics and people you follow, the more likely you are to get suggestions for a room that fits your interests.
Joining a room is easy. You only need to tap the room name and listen to the conversations. Most Clubhouse rooms have a TED Talk vibe, with one guest speaking and everyone listening. You can virtually raise your hand to speak. However, it is up to the moderator if you will be allowed. Depending on the chat room, this can be rare. You can join and leave conversations as you see fit. There are always dozens of conversations happening simultaneously. You can jump between subjects and speakers.
You can also create a room where you can speak with your friends casually. However, unlike conferencing tools, such as Zoom or Google Meet, there is no way to make a room private. The conversations are open to any member who can find them, so there is a big chance that somebody whom you do not know will drop in on your conversations.
The current limit to a room is 5,000 people. It may look like a large number at first, but conversations with big names as speakers, such as celebrities and influencers, can easily be filled. Also, the conversations are not permanent. Rooms come and go as people launch and end them. Moreover, the app does not record anything that happened inside a room. Some users have started live-streaming rooms on Youtube, which is a clever workaround for these limitations.
Not your ordinary social media
The Clubhouse app represents a change within the social media industry. It offers more engagement, value, and transparency, without the necessary production and endless wave of content that other platforms require. Getting into the app and navigating through it can be a challenge. However, it provides an experience unlike any other.
