Clubhouse, an invitation-only audio-chat app, is a new sensation in social media. People who have been fed up with likes on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram find a space in Clubhouse.
The app launched in April 2020 was co-founded by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Paul Davison and former Google employee, Indian origin, Rohan Seth. As the people confined to homes due to Covid-19 lockdown, the app could find its space quickly. The app that had 6 lakh registered users in December 2020 has millions of users in June 2021.
How does it become a sensation in May-June 2021?
Though the Clubhouse was launched in April 2020, it was only available for iOS users. The Android version of the Clubhouse was introduced only on May 21, 2021. Thus, the audio-chat app soon became a sensation, especially in India. As of June 2, the app has over one million Android users in India, the largest by far in any country.
“The team has been very small so far. It has been remarkable to see all the Rooms in India and it’s been very nostalgic and that is what Android enabled. We’re really excited by the response,” Rohan Seth said.
Internationally, the app has seen over 2.6 million Android downloads.
Also, Clubhouse was an invite-only platform, but not anymore. Now, anyone with a phone number can sign in to Clubhouse with an OTP. Initially, it syncs the contacts on your phone. After that, you have the option to either follow the persons in your contact list. Then you can select topics as per your interest, pick a profile picture and username. Finally, the home screen will show you all the ongoing rooms and clubs where people you follow are talking.
You can create your room too. There are three types of rooms; open, social and closed. Anyone can come to open rooms; social rooms will be available for the followers of speakers. A closed room is a strictly private room.
Even if you don’t want to participate in the discussion, you can continue sitting there as a listener. If you are bored with the room, you have the ‘leave quietly’ option.
If you scroll down few seconds, you can find the room to your interest. For example, you can spot chat rooms discussing life, Covid-19, politics, cryptocurrency, art, Cinema, travel, music and whatnot.
