Happy New Year Travelers!

It’s 2021 — a Brand New Year, and Congratulations; you made it OUT of 2020 alive, well, and ready for what this year has in store! As we all get back adjusted to a new calendar year, even in the midst of an ongoing global pandemic, its even more important for people like you and me to stay connected, right? Well, move over Facebook, there’s a new social networking site in town and it aims to connect real people, sharing real stories, about life.

Sounds like the opposite of the social media, we’ve all grown used to, but it’s a whole new world, and we’re all in the midst of a planetary shift that will continue to bring about a new definition of “normal.”

Are you on Clubhouse?

I’ve been asked this question at least three times over the past few weeks, and I’m glad to finally reply, “Why yes, yes I Am!” Of course the fun part is getting inside, but once you’re in, there’s an entire platform to explore, filled with all kinds of outlooks and thoughts on topics worth discussing, in general.

Clubhouse (CH) is an audio-only social networking site that allows users to curate hand-crafted rooms, while engaging in conversation across topics. CH started amongst the elites of Silicon Valley, and has made its way down to us regular folks. From how to get into tech, to ways to find Venture Capitalists for your startup, to going 50/50 on bills in romantic partnerships to …. UK Africans vs. African-Americans? Yes, basically any topic you may find on your Facebook, Twitter timeline has now made its way to Clubhouse (CH for short,) where you can actually TALK about your opinion with real people that may or may not share your outlook.

But here’s the thing, social media has grown into such a loaded term! It seems like there’s a new social network popping up monthly, so I’d like to offer three key features that makes CH unique. Then, you can decide whether or not CH is the right social network for you!

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Three Standout Features of Clubhouse

Clubhouse Is Invite Only

Do you remember when back in the day, around 2006-ish, when Facebook was exclusive to college students only, and you had to use your college email address to even use the platform — or are you a digital native and only read of these times in social media history books? Well, once upon a time, there were user qualifications for Facebook, but of course this is the thing of the past.

Clubhouse aims to re-establish authority as an exclusive social networking site by remaining invite only. In order to get on the platform, you have to be invited via your personal cell phone. This gives users a chance to curate their audience with people you know in real-life, as opposed to “Influencers,” or people that have internet clout, but have little to no impact or relationships in real-life. In order to be invited, you have to know someone on the platform. Then, you’re able to join the app. Also, there’s a “nominated by” feature that shows on your profile and basically shows users how you were invited on the app. Think of it as a networking wormhole, you can select the profiles and see who knows who, and how.

It’s pretty impressive, actually. It helps you see where your network began within the app. CH users are gifted multiple invites based on their network, then voila, the CH app continues to grow and expand. I started with five invites, and I gave those to various entrepreneurs and people that I think will add value to the platform. I was then, re-gifted with five more! Pretty cool, right?

Conversation Reigns Supreme

Unlike other social networks, lots of weird stuff goes viral and the people simply just roll with it. Ever wonder how certain memes start? Or where “it’s the smile for me,” originated? Probably some silly comment and the internet runs with it and makes it a “thing.” Well, luckily, Clubhouse comes with a bit more substance than this. In fact, on CH, true, raw, genuine conversation reigns supreme.

Rooms are moderated by one or several people, and each moderator has the option to invite people on “the stage,” to speak on whichever topic the room is. The longer the room lasts, the more in-depth and heated the topic/discussion is, the more value everyone in the room receives. It’s pretty much on the group and the people on the stage talking to determine whether or not the conversation is good, or if the topic should be changed. Either way, the flow of the room depends on the people — not bots, fake social profiles, or smart little algorithms.

Explore Feature Allows For True Exploration

Say goodbye to your family and friends you’ve known your entire life, following you across social networks! Say farewell to the only people engaging in your content being your favorite Aunt and Uncle! Because thanks to Clubhouse, you can finally curate your own, unique audience and following! What I also love about CH is that I feel brand new, yet unknown. I like the mystique that I bring to the app, as I enter and leave rooms quietly. There’s something about eavesdropping and moving in silence — literally, that makes the app that much more fun!

You can explore topics you’re interested in, and follow people that make for great audio-content creators, without feeling to connected to the CH friends in a way that makes you a bit apologetic or considerate of their feelings. You know how it is when you’re scrolling on IG and you’re like — it’s your MOM, of course you have to like the pic! There’s zero pressure to do anything on CH, and you can flow freely from room to room, without feeling the weight of I don’t know — unfriending or blocking someone, like on other networks?!

There are tons of resources out there to help you get started on Clubhouse, and I hope this blog post gives you a few more reasons to try out the new social network everyone’s talking about!

So, are you on Clubhouse? If so, what do you think of the app so far?

Let me know in the comments section, and see you in the rooms!

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