Business DISCUSSIONS WITH ARTIFICIAL SHORTAGE
To join the network, you have to be invited by an already active user. Initially, each user has only two invitations available. The people to be invited should therefore be chosen wisely. In addition, Clubhouse is currently only available for iOS users. On the one hand, this artificial shortage makes the app exclusive, on the other hand, it gives the developers the chance to grow slowly in order to fix possible bugs or prevent server failures. The nice side effect: Clubhouse feels like an elite class chat with business discussions. The usage is simple. Every user can open a “room” and directly invite friendly Clubhouse users to a talk. You can choose between an open room, a social room or a private room. In the room, the host can appoint moderators to lead the discussion. In addition, each member of the audience has the opportunity to virtually raise their hand and contribute to the conversation. The host can then let them have their say.
Clubhouse – BOUNCER FLAIR FOR EXCLUSIVITY
The artificial scarcity is cleverly used by the app’s creators. This is how Clubhouse spreads virally and gives the app its exclusivity. It works like the bouncer outside a hip club – “You can’t get in here.” – only in social media. After successful registration, users are given the opportunity to invite two of their contacts.
In Clubhouse, users encounter many things that already exist in social media. It is displayed when someone is online, other users can follow you and you can follow others. Push notifications also remind users of upcoming conversations when the bell is activated.
The topics in the rooms are currently mainly about entrepreneurship, marketing or Clubhouse itself. But private topics or late-night talks are also becoming more common. So far, users have little influence on the room selection that is suggested. Instead, they have to rely on the algorithm, which displays room suggestions based on pre-selected preferences and the people they follow. The network is growing rapidly. More and more celebrities from the media bubble, such as Lea-Sophie Cramer, Joko Winterscheidt and Frank Thelen, are already actively using Clubhouse.
App-DEVELOPERS Do NOT PROVIDE ANSWERS
It’s still somewhat silent around Silicon Valley software developers Alpha Exploration Co. Clubhouse was founded by Stanford graduate and former Pinterest employee Paul Davison and former Google employee Rohan Seth. The app went live in spring 2020 and is in beta to date (as of January 2021). At the end of December, the app recorded 600,000 users. At the time, the company was valued at just under $100 million after a $12 million investment from venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. As far as data protection is concerned, things look rather critical. For example, conversations in the individual rooms are recorded. According to Alpha Exploration Co., the recording is only used to improve the app and is intended to protect users in the event of legal disputes. Data protection experts also warn that the app requests access to all contacts in the smartphone’s address book when the invitation to Clubhouse is activated. The manufacturer thus collects vast amounts of personal data. Even from people who do not use Clubhouse at all. The makers have not yet named a permanent contact person for data protection issues. Only the data protection regulation in California is referred to. In addition, it is unclear exactly what is recorded, how long the data is stored, and how users can access their own data again.
However, users are not deterred by this, especially since other, already well-known and established apps have similar data protection regulations. What we can say for sure is that Clubhouse can be addictive. It combines the advantages of a podcast with those of a social media platform.
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