When Clubhouse launched last year, many predicted that it might be the downfall of the talk-focused social network aiming that promotes interesting conversations. The biggest problem is if those conversations are even worth having at this point of 2021 with rivals in the rearview mirror from Twitter and Facebook. Today the app is now available Globally via Android.
But what is Clubhouse? It is was one of the standout applications over on iOS in 2020 and made rounds since most people were under some form of quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic which helped push the app. The app is based around voice discussion in a semi-open forum style. It launched almost in the same way that many other “huge” platforms do — operating entirely on an invite-only basis. You still need an invite, but celebrities helped boost the profile of the app to millions of iPhone users within the space of a few weeks.
Clubhouse also removes the awkwardness of things like video-calling, where you need to make eye contact and pay full attention to whomever is speaking, because, well, they can see you.
How Clubhouse on Android works
The app is built upon “rooms,” which are basically talks or conversations being held by a host, with participants invited to speak. People can drop in and “raise a hand” to contribute and ask a question or interact with speakers. Clubhouse on Android follows the exact same format but is lacking some of the features that the iPhone holders are enjoying.
Among the missing features missing include payments and club creation, two features that you likely won’t miss all too much before they arrive at some point on the Clubhouse for Android app soon. The Android users are not the kind known to love to make in App purchases or payments. We mentioned that there is an invite-only system in place here too because you can’t do anything until you have been “nominated” by another member to join. It too me 10 mins to be approved in the app from the time I sent in my request (see image below). All notifications at this point are done via SMS after you submit your mobile phone number. This process helps stop the app from becoming a free-for-all and keeps it somewhat coveted by Clubhouse’s tight-knit community.
Clubhouse prevents users from recording audio within the app itself, but Android users can do screen recording and use other apps can circumvent Clubhouse’s inability to record natively quite easily. This goes against the privacy-focused approached that the Clubhouse devs want to portray, but it’s pretty important to note.
Within the app, you can schedule your own “Room” or RSVP to previously scheduled events that will include some information on what is being discussed. This is where we run into some of the problems with the platform but it’s simultaneously Clubhouse’s core strength — timed exclusivity. If you miss out, well, that’s it. That is what creates a buzz surrounding the entire platform. You can “ping” someone into a room though if you want your friends to join and listen in before they miss out.
The downside
There is no doubt that Clubhouse on Android is long overdue but realistically it might not even survive long enough to be relevant on the platform. We have the likes of Twitter and Facebook coming in to duplicate the concept and beaten Clubhouse to the punch on the Android platform. Putting the chatroom-style features directly into their established products that don’t require any extra accounts or invites.
Another major issue is how Clubhouse is being used by the kind of people you simply want to avoid. TED talks hosted by people who simply don’t know what they are talking about springs to mind. It has also devolved into the murky world of gig seekers, influencers, marketers, and industry speak–style open forums. These and more issues are turning off people from using the app.
Where it shines is in performances and, in some very rare cases, lectures. The appeal ahead of time was the chance to converse with celebrities and industry leaders. With over 10 million users globally, your chances are now very slim-to-none. It’s easy to see that there are many better formats to broadcast or host this type of thing. It can quickly devolve into what amounts to a passive podcast where people randomly dive in to ask questions.
Final words
Clubhouse coming to Android is huge and is a very important step that may prove successful. The biggest problem is that Twitter, Facebook, and many other larger platforms have been able to develop and distribute their own alternatives in the time it has taken Clubhouse to arrive on the world’s biggest mobile platform.
Realistically, at this point, you’re not going to get much useful information on Clubhouse. Just listen to a podcast instead.
To book yourself a spot, you can pre-register to get Clubhouse in your region via the Google Play Store, but it is worth noting that sideloading the official APK file will grant access without geo-restrictions.
