Whether you have already heard of Clubhouse or not, it’s unlikely that you have joined it yet. This is because this new social media platform has a huge reputation to maintain. This reputation is all about the exclusivity of users. To get into Clubhouse, you need to get an invitation, but that rule might change soon. Check back on The Tool Report blog, as we’ll update you when that happens. Here is everything you need to know about Clubhouse if you secured an invitation and wanted to use it.
What is Clubhouse?
Clubhouse is a new social media platform that is voice-based. So instead of texting each other on different social media platforms, Clubhouse offers you a voice-based conversation. You can jump in and out of chats, so it’s similar to live podcasts.
You can speak and share your thoughts, or you can listen to the podcast you’re in. Imagine being in a cocktail party or a clubhouse! The main rule on Clubhouse is that the audio cannot leave the app. Nothing can be recorded or saved.
How Does Clubhouse Work?
Clubhouse is currently only available on iOS. The people who get invitations to join are also given invitations to give to their friends. Users who are more active on the platform get more invitations than others.
To get into Clubhouse, you need to get one of those invitations. You can try hitting up a colleague or a friend that is already using the app. If that doesn’t work, you can always buy your way in! Invitations are on eBay ranging from $30-$20,000.
You need to keep in mind that Cubhouse lacks some privacy filters that other apps have. The Clubhouse website also suggested that the application will soon be available to be used by Android users and practically everyone else.
What Makes Clubhouse Different from Other Social Media Platforms?
The main feature that distinguishes Clubhouse is that it is the only social media platform that is audio-only, unlike Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. The platform is also camera-free. Users do not need to worry about eye contact or how they look, it is a “very special medium”.
As the company wrote on their website “The intonation, inflection and emotion conveyed through voice allow you to pick up on nuance and form uniquely human connections with others.”
They also added, “You can still challenge each other and have tough conversations but with voice, there is often an ability to build more empathy. This is what drew us to the medium.”
Why Is Everyone Suddenly Talking about Clubhouse?
Despite starting up just 10 months ago, Clubhouse has reportedly a $1 billion valuation. Many top honchos of Silicon Valley from Elon Musk to Mark Zuckerberg to Oprah Winfrey have used the application, which encouraged thousands of iOS users to engage on the application.
How Can You Join Clubhouse?
The creators of Clubhouse say that they want the application to be used by everyone and they are working hard on making it available to everyone as soon as possible.
It’s not an exclusive app. However, it’s still in beta now because the general release version is not available yet.
Clubhouse wants to grow its community and to have more users from all over the world. However, they want to do so slowly so that “things don’t break, keeps the composition of the community diverse, and allows us to tune the product as it grows”.
Because of all this, it is a bit difficult to get into Clubhouse. You will need to get an invitation from an existing user, as people who get invited get to invite more people.
The other option is for you to buy an invitation through eBay, or download the app and save a handle, and then put your name on the waiting list and then wait for someone to invite you in.
Is Clubhouse Useful for Creatives?
You can use Clubhouse to make connections and get more contacts by joining conversation rooms. You can talk to other creatives about their work techniques, supplies, technologies, and marketing. But still, how to discuss creatives when you have no visuals on the app?
Creatives get around this by changing their profile pictures temporarily to show others what they are working on. Some of the recommended clubs for creatives are The Artist Lounge, Designers Club, and Creative Career Warriors.
Can You Make Money on Clubhouse?
People can make money by getting sponsors, depending on the corporate needs and the person’s job.
For instance, if a corporation is trying to sell a product they will look for content creators and designers as well as Instagram influencers. So it is natural that the same will be done at Clubhouse sooner or later.
Is Clubhouse Available on Android?
Not yet. However, Clubhouse’s CEO Paul Davidson said that the application will soon open up for everyone to be able to use it, including Android users.
Is Clubhouse Safe? What about Privacy?
Even though Clubhouse only launched this last year, it had its fair share of criticism and complaints due to the lack of moderation on the platform. The app did not have any guidelines, to begin with, but quickly had problems with users harassing each other and the spread of misinformation.
Therefore, the creators decided to set community guidelines, allowing users to block and report any incidents of abuse. Rooms can customize their own rules, too.
Are There Any Downsides to the App?
As much as the application is amusing and can build great communities, it can still be the breeding ground for fake news and misinformation, so it is important to keep your content diverse and to stay aware of the room’s content.
Final Thoughts
Clubhouse is one great application that can help people communicate even better now that they do not have the stress of looking good on camera or even texting. People can be more comfortable speaking their minds, and that’s what makes this application appealing to users.
