Four Reasons Why the Clubhouse Hype Is Fading

Clubhouse exploded a couple of months ago, and then…crickets. Just as quickly as the Clubhouse hype blew up, it seems that all has become quiet on the Clubhouse front. Why has the buzz waned, and what does this mean for the social media app’s future? 

Read on to discover four reasons why the Clubhouse craze has lulled.

The time when Clubhouse blew up

In March 2020, Clubhouse became Silicon Valley’s most hyped-about social media app. A fan favorite among an eclectic bunch like Drake, Oprah Winfrey, Ashton Kutcher, and Elon Musk, Clubhouse exploded in mainstream media, with many wanting in.  

For folks unfamiliar with Clubhouse, it’s an audio-based app that facilitates conversations between online communities. Likened to Ted Talks, Clubhouse virtual chat rooms enable like-minded people from across the world to forge connections and talk about interesting topics. Marketers have attributed Clubhouse’s popularity to its invite-only exclusivity, among its interactive features that enable people to listen in on rooms and ask questions as an audience. 

For more information, head over to our article explaining what the Clubhouse app is about.

Four reasons why the Clubhouse hype is fading

The phasing out of COVID-19 restrictions and key competitors like Facebook and Twitter hedging for dominance have contributed to a slump in Clubhouse downloads.

In April alone,  Clubhouse was downloaded only 900,000 times, compared to 9.6 million downloads in February. And as travel restrictions lift and people resume face-to-face socializing, the need for virtual socializing appears to have diminished. Moreover, the app is contending with privacy concerns, misinformation, and harassment claims.

Below we outline four reasons why Clubhouse is fading from the scenes.

#1 Gaps in content moderation

Clubhouse keeps track of conversations by recording everything then deleting them after. Clubhouse chat moderators also have the power to banish bullies or block people from joining rooms.

While the platform has protocols to moderate abusive content and disqualify trolls, misogyny,  anti-Semitism conspiracies, and other offensive comments have thrived on the app. In one incident, a user shared conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 vaccines, discouraging people from getting shots, which  led to the harassment of a female doctor. 

While social media platforms will always have to grapple with misinformation and trolls, experts have been quick to point out that Clubhouse must develop its content moderation practices and introduce more robust measures to combat misinformation. 

#2 Privacy concerns

Clubhouse bans people from recording or transcribing conversations as a way to keep conversations private. Sadly, people on the internet violate rules. Tech-savvy rule breakers have captured snippets and even publicly leaked entire conversations from Clubhouse rooms, bringing into question key privacy concerns. 

Recently, all hell broke loose when a venture capitalist prevented a journalist from joining Elon Musk’s room. The audio leaked anyway, calling into question just how private conversations are on Clubhouse.

#3 Data protection regulations

In early March 2021, German and Italian regulators raised concerns about Clubhouse’s data practices, questioning whether Clubhouse complied with European data protection laws. 

Experts have noted that the app itself lacks appropriate data protection notices. Moreover, Clubhouse requires users to upload phone book contacts, which has stirred up controversy regarding how exactly this information is used.

#4 Competition is ripe

As a new kid on the block, Clubhouse’s audio-based conversation features have quickly caught the eyes of the big players in the field like Facebook and Twitter. In fact, Twitter reportedly reached out to Clubhouse, wanting to buy the platform for $4 billion. And Facebook is in on the competition, working on its own audio product, which will exist as a co-extension to messenger rooms. 

Interestingly,  tech analysts  have noted that Clubhouse’s drop-in audio chat may end up being used just like ‘stories’ have become a thing on Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. 

Clubhouse’s future

While it’s too early to rule Clubhouse out, the hype around the social media platform has definitely faded. It raises some interesting questions about Clubhouse’s future and whether the app can find its feet in a competitive social media landscape. Only time will tell, but for now, keep your eyes peeled open and watch this space for more interesting updates.