What Is Clubhouse? Why is it so popular?

Despite many popular social media apps available already, the clubhouse is trending. What makes Clubhouse so popular and what is Clubhouse? The clubhouse is a social network for people who want to talk about what’s going on in their lives. It has chat rooms that are divided into topics like “jobs” and “personal growth.” The app is popular because it offers users the opportunity to connect with others who share similar goals and interests, while also providing them with valuable resources or advice.

This is an audio-based app, which feels like listening to someone else’s phone call, legally. This social networking app is more like a hybrid of conference calls and talks back radio, adding in elements of Houseparty.  The clubhouse is strictly invite-oriented. You won’t be able to just download it off the app store and create an account. Just like real-life fancy clubs, you have to be invited by an existing member. Take real-world elitism but add the virtual touch to it.

When you do join, you get to choose topics of interest, like tech, books, business, or health. The more information you provide about your interests, the more conversation rooms/ individuals the app will recommend. The conversation room is like a conference call, with some people on the call talking, and others mostly just listening in. Just like a phone call, after the conversation finishes, the room will be closed.

What is Clubhouse Invite and how to get an invitation?

An existing Clubhouse user has to send you an invitation to set up an account. If you are invited, you will be able to spot a link texted to your number, directing you to a sign-up page. However, even the Clubhouse users can’t just send an invitation to anyone who wants to join. Existing users only have the ability to invite two people at first. 

The creators announced that their 2021 goal is to complete the beta stage. So, they can eventually “open up Clubhouse to the whole world”. 

Elon Musk and his influence on the App

It garnered mainstream attention when Elon Musk hosted an audio-chat with the CEO of Robinhood Vlad Tenev on the Clubhouse app. The event maxed out the app conversation room limits, it was also live-streamed on YouTube. The clubhouse has over 2 million users. The clubhouse has also announced upcoming features, like tipping, tickets, or subscriptions. Which’ll be to directly pay creators on the app. The clubhouse is valued at $1bn. It is also considered as a Unicorn startup, joining the likes of Airbnb, Uber, and SpaceX. 

The demand and popularity are so high, that in China, invitations are being sold on Alibaba’s second-hand marketplace called Idle Fish.  

What is the reason behind its popularity in China?

Clubhouse managed to hover under China’s firewall for several months, unlike other social media networks. It provided users in China with a rare chance towards “binge free expression”, and engage in discussion on topics that were usually blocked on the mainland. As censorship, suppression, and government control is rife in China. 

E-commerce sites in China were offering the chance to buy invites. Invite codes were being sold on platforms like Xianyu and Taobao for 150 – 400 yuan ($23 – $61). As per Quartz, “Chinese users, largely tech investors/professionals, used the app as a means to discuss topics that would otherwise be censored.”

Clubhouse was blocked inside China, as of 8 February 2021, before being unblocked but being only available in Apple’s OS. 

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