February 9, 2023, 3:11 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
It was one of those apps you just had to have on your smartphone back in early 2021. We’re talking about Clubhouse. But how is the app doing today?
Suddenly, it seemed like half the world was in conversation with each other. Clubhouse sparked a trend: voice-based chat rooms. Here, people actually talk to each other instead of just typing messages back and forth. Many celebrities joined in, including Elon Musk, Joko Winterscheidt, and Mark Zuckerberg. And now? It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Clubhouse. Will the app go down in internet history as a flash in the pan?
Overview
Clubhouse Offers Entertainment–but Only by Invitation
First of all, the circumstances at the beginning of 2021 certainly played a significant role in Clubhouse’s rapid rise. People were longing for connection due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Voices and app-based conversations helped to momentarily forget the loneliness within their own four walls. Clubhouse entered the scene at just the right time.
Additionally, the app initially gave the impression of being an exclusive club. To participate in conversations, users needed an invitation, which at least created the appearance of exclusivity. However, the real reason Clubhouse initially allowed only invited guests into the audio chats was quite different. In fact, the server capacities at the start were insufficient to handle the expected influx of users.
Hype Despite a Rocky Start
In retrospect, the entire Clubhouse market entry seems highly unprofessional. Initially, there was only an app for the iPhone. The Android app appeared much later. By then, most Clubhouse users had already turned their backs on the app. So how did Clubhouse manage to create such a hype?
The idea of speaking with others on specific topics in chat rooms has definite potential. Clubhouse set a precedent beyond the initial hype. Other social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, quickly imitated the Clubhouse model on their platforms. There is a strong desire among internet users to engage in direct dialogue with each other.
However, the real world is now competing much more strongly with virtual temptations for the scarce resource of time. With the end of pandemic-induced isolation, many people are enjoying doing things with others again. Real-life chats are simply more enticing.
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Audio Chats Have a Future
Nevertheless, the topic of audio chat is far from over. Many experts see enormous potential in certain areas. The app “Locker Room” was recently acquired by Spotify. In this app, users only discuss sports topics. Spotify is using the “Locker Room” structures for its own app “Greenroom.” The audio chat rooms are now simply called Spotify Live.
Here, Spotify users can create their own thematic rooms or join existing ones to discuss musical topics with other guests. Many social media experts see the future of the format in such monothematic audio chat rooms.
LinkedIn has also jumped on the Clubhouse bandwagon and offers live rooms where users can exchange words and images in real time. There is indeed a market for voice-based chat rooms. Clubhouse paved the way for this.
Read also: Spotify vs. Apple Music–Which Service Comes Out on Top?
Clubhouse Has Improved
Clubhouse is certainly not dead yet. The app’s creators have used the time to address some weaknesses. The program is now available for both iOS and Android. Server capacities have been significantly expanded. Now, anyone who wants to can participate in Clubhouse discussions. The invitations have been eliminated.
In terms of data protection, Clubhouse has also made the app more reliable. Hacked user data should no longer appear publicly in any online forums. Additionally, audio in the rooms is recorded and at least temporarily stored. If users make anti-Semitic or racist remarks or otherwise stand out with verbal outbursts, action can be taken, according to the Clubhouse creators.
Where Clubhouse’s journey will go in the future is still unclear. The app’s rapid decline may be due to completely exaggerated expectations from the industry. This wouldn’t be the first time in the digital world–keyword: dot-com bubble. Back in the late 1990s, any company that had anything to do with the internet was considered the next big thing. Companies could hardly fend off investors. A speculative bubble formed, which burst with a loud bang in March 2000.
After Clubhouse disappeared from the public eye, the developers put important things in motion. Whether this will be enough to turn a flash in the pan into a real giant on the second try remains to be seen. The desire for genuine communication in the virtual world seems to be far from satisfied, as the examples of Spotify and LinkedIn show.