All About Clubhouse, a Gabfest Behind a Velvet Rope

It’s been years since a U.S. social media platform has broken through. But in 2021, Clubhouse has become a cultural phenomenon, attracting celebrities, a $1 billion valuation and plenty of controversy. Modeled after a conference or festival like South by Southwest, users can “drop in” to audio chats focused on topics ranging from music critique to business advice. The Silicon Valley elite made up its initial audience, and they continue to have an outsized influence on the app’s environment. While still invite-only and exclusive to the iPhone, Clubhouse is expanding rapidly, and celebrated its first birthday on St. Patrick’s Day, 2021.

Clubhouse is an audio-only social media app known for its unconstrained conversations, celebrity backers and invite-only status. The experience falls somewhere between call-in radio and a professional conference. Users self-select into rooms based on interest, and engage in live conversation. Room moderators decide who is able to speak, and it’s common to see rooms with dozens of active participants. The still-in-beta app exploded in popularity at the start of 2021, reaching 8 million downloads by mid-February despite limiting enrollment.