The new social media platform, Clubhouse, has received much attention in recent days. It begs the question: how are other social media platforms working to combat the competition brought on by this new app and how they will remain relevant in a media-saturated world?
What is Clubhouse?
For a little background on Clubhouse, the new app is an audio-only platform. Users can communicate through chat rooms of up to 5,000 people. Regardless, the app is already deemed controversial. It’s invite-only feature doesn’t allow everyday users to download the app unless invited by a previous user to join. Rather elitist, notable figures like Elon Musk, Ai Weiwei, Lindsay Lohan, and Roger Stone have already joined the platform.
The app has recently been valued at one billion dollars. It is consistently the topic of conversation for techies and those in the social networking industry. The app’s unique freedom has inspired other popular platforms to follow suit.
Clubhouse Competition
According to a 2020 study by Statista, the most popular social network worldwide measured by active users is Facebook. Notorious platforms such as Instagram, Youtube, and Twitter were ranked in the studies top 20.
Though these apps already have so much of the market share, there is never a guarantee that a new platform won’t come in and sweep away their success. Because of this, social media platforms are constantly keeping tabs on one another to figure out what is working best for their competitors and to learn what they should implement into their own app’s model.
For instance, when TikTok first gained its traction, Instagram noticed and decided to create reels in order to keep users still interested in Instagram. When Snapchat added stories, once again, Instagram followed the trend of implementing stories to their platform. Facebook added Messenger Rooms to compete with Zoom and WhatsApp’s disappearing messages were inspired by Snapchat.
Social media platforms are constantly using each other and replicating their successes to make their own platforms more successful.
How Social Networks are Combatting Clubhouse
A Facebook spokeswoman told the Times, “We’ve been connecting people through audio and video technologies for many years and are always exploring new ways to improve that experience for people.” And though there is nothing new announced, we can surely bet Facebook is hard at work trying to create their next feature consisting of audio chats.
Along with Facebook, CNet has reported that Twitter is joining in the live audio. Twitter is currently working on Spaces, a new audio group chat feature.
Even notorious entrepreneur Mark Cuban has been rumored to be dabbling in his own project to combat Clubhouse. He’s said to be working on a new podcast app that monetizes the conversations, reported The Verge.
User Caution
As more apps continue to implement new features and audio chat capabilities into their platforms, users must be conscious about misinformation inevitably spread across each and every platform.
Moreover, social media is notorious for spreading disingenuous information, and fast. It’s important that as social technologies advance, society keeps these media giants in check.
It’ll be interesting to keep watch when Clubhouse exits its beta stage and becomes public to everyone—as the creators have stated as the goal—and how other threatened platforms will continue to interpret the new success in the market.
Featured image source: Unsplash.com
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