Are you joining the club?

The app has an audio-only format. Representation pic

By now, most social media users are aware of the existence of Clubhouse, an audio-only platform that was launched last year. Its invite-only format hasn't deterred users from thronging to it and the numbers have only swelled with the app being made available to Android users as well. However, with social media fatigue becoming an undeniable part of our locked-down lives, does the introduction of this app change the status quo? Clubhouse users who spoke to mid-day seem to think it does. "Unlike other social media platforms, or even podcasts for that matter, you don't need to have presentation or production skills to initiate or join a conversation. Also, an audio-only format means that you don't really need screen presence to be heard. In that sense, it is a truly democratic app," believes Santu Misra, a creative director.

Abhishek Khan, a lettering artist, adds that unlike Instagram or Twitter, where conversations are either one-to-one or one-to-many, Clubhouse has scope for many-to-many dialogues. This, combined with the fact that you can seek out clubs and rooms as per your interest can help you find your virtual tribe, he explains. "For many of us who have been living alone during the pandemic and are tired of speaking only to a few select friends or family members, the app has helped to cope with the loneliness. Even if you don't want to use the app to network or build [or address] your following, you can simply create a closed room with a few members and vent," says Misra. That said, he has also been using the app to host meaningful discussions that have resonated with many. "My friends and I host a club called The Dark Room where we dissect topics that no one wants to talk about, such as cancel culture or fat-phobia in the fashion world. These were well received and we heard many interesting points of view from people we didn't know before," he shares.

As with most platforms, Clubhouse too has its grey areas. "Especially in political rooms, we have to be vigilant about vicious baiting and trolling. On Clubhouse, such attacks are quicker, harsher and more direct since they happen verbally and in real-time," Khan warns.

Santu Misra; Abhishek Khan, Yashraj Akashi

Building your base, forming your tribe
Yashraj Akashi, curator of TEDxGateway and an early adopter of the platform, says that Clubhouse can work as a great tool to discover new ideas and talent, and create global content. "If you have skills that you think are of value to others, you can share these via local club events. For instance, I contribute to start-up and investment clubs, as well as crypto clubs. In addition to mentoring start-ups, I have also gained immense knowledge from other venture capitalists and investors who create valuable content," he says.

However, it is important to be mindful of the burnout that can set in with this platform, especially when sessions go on for as long as 10 hours without adding much value. "Conversations often go off tangent and as a club owner or moderator, you have to bring the speakers back to the topic so that your audience doesn't lose interest," he sums up.