Explainer | Clubhouse, the invitation-only audio app on iPhones where you can chat with Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and rap star Drake
- The audio app allows users to chat with others around the world, in small conversations with a select few or with thousands of people
- Like an exclusive club, the iPhone-only app is only open to those with an invitation. Members include rap star Drake, actor Jared Leto and Tesla’s Elon Musk
Clubhouse, an invitation-only audio chat app launched less than a year ago, has caught the attention of tech industry bigshots such as Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg – not to mention the Chinese government, which has already blocked it in the country. What is Clubhouse, you ask?
What is Clubhouse?
Conversations can be intimate, like a phone call, or might include thousands of people listening to a talk by boldface names, like a conference or stage interview. Part podcast, part conference call, part social media platform, it’s free to use and there are no ads, at least not at this point.
How do I get in?
Currently, the only way to get an invitation is to score one from someone already on Clubhouse. It’s still in “beta” version, like Gmail was in its early days, when it was a badge of nerd worthiness to get an account. If you don’t know anyone who can invite you yet, you may not have to wait much longer.
When Clubhouse first came out, new members only got two invitations. That number has now grown to five, signalling that the app feels ready to broaden its audience. You can also download the app and get on a waiting list to be let into Clubhouse.
Once you have an invitation, you can import your Twitter profile – or start from scratch – and then follow people or “clubs” on a broad range of topics. The app encourages people to use their real names, though this does not appear to be enforced. You’ll also need an iPhone – Clubhouse doesn’t yet work on Android phones and is not on the web.
Who made Clubhouse?
It was created by Silicon Valley entrepreneur Paul Davison, based known for a location-driven social networking app Highlight that Pinterest bought in 2016, and a former Google engineer, Rohan Seth.