Clubhouse is an American social network recently founded, April 2020, by Paul Davison and Rohan Seth. In the States, the social network enjoys great success with several VIP members who use this space and is now gaining ground in Italy as well.

Why? One reason is certainly linked to the fact that the social network is currently limited. To access you must be invited by someone who is already present inside and who initially has only two invitations available.

However, we must not forget the consequences of lockdown and smart working either. Remote calls are on the agenda and users are now used to talking to colleagues, customers or suppliers.
In this very particular and unexpected condition, the sense of isolation and the need not to feel alone were moods common to many. Clubhouse has allowed to socialize and have company, without having to show up.

It differs from the usual social networks because it is based exclusively on the use of audio content: the posts on the platform are not in fact conveyed by any type of text or image or video.

As mentioned, access to this social network is allowed only by invitation via SMS from other users who are already registered. Alternatively, you can download the application, complete the registration and wait for a common contact to approve the request.

Access is allowed with your own telephone number and limited to adult users.

For the moment the app is only available on iOS but in the coming weeks it should also debut within the Google Play Store for Android smartphones.

Once logged in, the user can choose whether to act simply as a listener, following the various discussions, or take an active part in them.

The social network is organized in rooms in which conversations are initiated on various topics of interest and in which users can participate via voice messages.
There are 3 user groups in each room. The moderator is in charge of conducting and managing the conversation. Speakers are all users who can speak with audio messages. Finally, there are the listeners who attend the discussion, but can be promoted to speaker by the moderator after demonstrating their willingness to participate (raising their hand).

All posted audio messages are encrypted and cannot in any way leave Clubhouse: the platform prevents them from being shared, downloaded or registered.

An algorithm decides the rooms to be shown to users based on work, close friendships on the app and interests expressed during registration. On one side of the screen there is also a small bar showing the appointments of the day (similar to Twitch).

Facebook will certainly not stand idly by.
Already in 2019, Zuckerberg declared that in the future his social network would be more private, to get closer to the idea of a “digital living room”.

It is therefore very likely that in the coming months we will see a new battle, such as the one between Snapchat, the IG Stories, TikTok and Reels.
Clubhouse is perhaps the most concrete threat to the Menlo Park company, because it encompasses all the trends of the new social networks: the possibility of discussion and comparison, ephemeral content, attention to privacy.

For the moment… Keep Calm and wait for your invitation!