Less than one year since its launch, Clubhouse is becoming a popular platform for new age socialization. Users of the invite-only, drop-in audio app, developed by Alpha Exploration Co., are not only privy to conversations between people in different geographic locations, but also can play as a fly-on-the-wall in “rooms” — audio channels that can be easily accessed — filled with people delivering valuable insight. Topics range from how to pitch to venture capitalists to having entrepreneurial mindsets. It’s also a great networking tool that coerces personalities to shine instead of rely on filtered photos for popularity.
Despite all the good that is being accomplished, there are a few improprieties that occur during discourse in these rooms. It appears that the issue is more noticeable because a Clubhouse room was made specifically to address concerns with the rampant disruption of some very questionable behavior. Dont PING Successful Ppl In A Room & Not Bring Them On Stage, a room that averaged about 300-500 people at any given time, listed everything that was wrong (and right) with the app.
One person revealed that the app is a haven for bullies. These bullies would host a room and then, depending on their requirements, do everything from verbally abuse other users to kicking people out of the room or down to “the sunken place,” a muted area of the room where the user cannot “raise hand” to speak.
Other users commented that trolls interrupt rooms with loud noises or spontaneous rude comments, sometimes causing the host to restart the room in order to kick the unknown troll out. The app developer created the option to hold a finger on the avatar or profile pic to kick a troll out, but first you have to find the troll, which can be a challenge given you have to search through a sea of people to locate a barely noticeable ring around the photo of the person speaking.
Another trend that is occurring is the creation of rooms based on salacious or discriminative topics, such as judging people by their looks or determining whether a person is an alpha or beta male. While some people would see nothing wrong with these types of rooms, depending on whether you decide to take the red or blue pill, the matrix could end up being a very negative experience that leaves the user humiliated or ashamed.
In another instance, users are not happy with influencers having first dibs at followers and creating clique type rooms that are exclusive to people just like them — what one user described as “echo chambers” for its lack of diversity in thought and contribution.
As the MouthSoap team has done extensive research on the platform, reports from team members confirm that these concerns are, indeed, true. However, the value Clubhouse offers overthrows the small annoying nuisances that comes with interacting in social clubs.
Some users will attest that the app has made building a following more effective, and that new relationships have evolved into powerful collaborations. All in all, Clubhouse is what you make it. So, as one user communicated in the popular room, if users broaden their horizons and focus on bringing value to the app, then the potential is limitless.
