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What Is Clubhouse? Everything To Know About The New & Exclusive Social Media App

What is Clubhouse?

Founded in March 2020 by Paul Davison and Rohan Seth, Clubhouse is a new, invite-only (for now) audio social app in which users join chat rooms and are able to hear other users conversing, and join the discussion themselves. As of right now, the app is still in beta testing and only has a few thousand users, most of whom are either public figures or have some connection to Silicon Valley. The app is slowly expanding its user base by inducting roughly a dozen new users each day, thus still maintaining its exclusivity as it assesses how well the company can execute its intended purpose to foster communication and human connection among a steadily-growing audience. In the meantime, they’ve also begun a waiting list where you can register your username ahead of time.

The new-fangled app was valued at $100 million back in May, despite the fact that it only had a mere 1,500 total users at the time (today’s figure hovers a little over 10,000 users), with investments coming from American venture capital firm, Andreessen Horowitz. As the next stages of the app’s testing process unfold, it will be made clearer whether the buzz surrounding the app is solely the result of its exclusivity, or if Clubhouse would still be met with the same excitement were it to be made more accessible to the public. In the few months since its iteration, Clubhouse has already garnered shout-outs from a number of high-profile figures in the black and hip-hop communities, with users Kevin Hart, producer Cardo Got Wings, and TIDAL’s chief content officer, Elliott Wilson, all showing love to the platform.

Clubhouse’s Exclusivity

The scarcity of a product is often used to ensure success in today’s hype-oriented streetwear and cultural landscape, however, for this tactic to be employed by a social media app is a relatively novel concept. Generally speaking, the ideology social media startup founders have by-and-large operated by is that more reach equals more success, but Clubhouse is proving that rarity can be just as valuable a tool as accessibility in ensuring prosperity.

Even so, the app’s founders have stated that this exclusive nature of the app isn’t their intention: “We are building Clubhouse for everyone and working to make it available to the world as quickly as possible. It’s not intended to be exclusive; we just aren’t ready to ship the general release version yet.” The reasoning? “We think it’s important to grow communities slowly, rather than 10x-ing the user base overnight. This helps ensure that things don’t break, keeps the composition of the community diverse, and allows us to tune the product as it grows,” as well as the fact that they have limited employees and thus haven’t finished building out the features of the app quite yet.

Clubhouse’s unique approach may distinguish the app from other reigning social media platforms, however, it has not been exempt from controversy as the app tries to find its footing in the tech world. Continue reading for a look at the controversy the company was recently enmeshed in, as well as a who’s who of celebrities and hip-hop figures who we know are enjoying access to the platform presently.

September Anti-Semetic Remarks

The challenge with founding a platform on the basis of promoting candid discussions amongst people of different walks of life is that free speech and hate speech are often inextricably linked. While things may have been smooth-sailing for Clubhouse for a few months, it was only a matter of time before impending controversy hit. When it did hit, it was in the form of a series of anti-Semitic remarks that had erupted in a chat room titled “Anti-Semitism and Black Culture,” moderated by activist Ashoka Finley on Yom Kippur in September.

The chat room drew 350 simultaneous users, while hundreds of others poured in and out throughout its duration, making it one of the app’s most popular chat rooms to date. While the conversation apparently started out constructive, it quickly became derailed, with people unabashedly expressing offensive tropes against Jewish people, stereotyping them as wealthy and stingy, with the discussion centering around certain users’ belief that black people deserve reparations, while the Jewish community does not, due to the perceived economic success of many Jewish people in America.

When Jewish participants attempted to interject, they were trampled over by others and went largely unheard. The discussion room was criticized for essentially pitting two minority communities against each other. Given the title of the discussion, some felt the result was unsurprising. The fact that it was held on Yom Kippur, one of the holiest days of the year for Jewish people, only stoked the controversy further.

The struggle for moderation will be one of Clubhouse’s defining obstacles, as has been the case for other apps built on the same philosophy of encouraging connection, such as Yik Yak, which rose in popularity for the unfiltered, forthright dialogue it offered users and fell from grace for the very same reason. Yik Yak offered users anonymity that Clubhouse does not, but that has not stopped some Clubhouse users from entering false names, ranging from Elon Musk to Tim Cook, in order to attract others to their chat rooms, prompting users to call on the platform to enforce a real name policy.

These incidents show that it does not take much for Clubhouse’s well-intended goal of bringing people together at a time in which most are practicing social distancing, to spiral out of control. It is evident that as the platform continues to accept new users, offensive discourse will only become more prevalent, meaning that implementing strong community guidelines and zero-tolerance policies for hate speech will be paramount in order for Clubhouse to maintain its credibility.

Clubhouse’s Celebrity Users

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The black community’s influence in dictating trends has been made clear beyond doubt in recent years. Aside from the fact that at least half of all internet slang, fashion trends, and dance crazes are derived from black creators or personalities, black consumers wield significant buying power and thus, brands often need to cater to them in order to survive. Clubhouse seems to have caught onto this particular indicator of success early on, with them notably extending the app’s exclusive membership to many influential members of the black community, such as E-40, Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, Terry Crews, MC Hammer, 21 Savage, Oprah Winfrey, and Joe Budden. Other famous names include Hannibal Buress, Ashton Kutcher, Mark Cuban, Jared Leto, and reportedly even Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.

Clubhouse’s celebrity roster has begun turning some heads, with people noting that the company seems to be strategically cherry-picking certain black public figures to promote the app among the black community. Companies headed by non-black folks going out of their way to hook black people onto their ideas is becoming an increasingly common phenomenon, and many black people staunchly believe that their communities should refrain from indulging these corporations, who they perceive as strictly self-serving.

One person tweeted, “So there’s a new white space app called clubhouse that requires an invite to join; and Black folk who have been historically denied access are supposedly clamoring to get on and espouse its exclusivity to others who weren’t invited? Sounds like some “onlyoneism” ish to me.”

Regardless of whether or not this strategy has been carved out by Clubhouse as meticulously as it would appear, it is clearly paying off. Multiple Clubhouse users have expressed on social media that Meek Mill and 21 Savage have emerged as two of the app’s most entertaining users, and are even something of a dynamic duo when they happen to be on the app at the same time. Meek Mill has even expressed interest in investing in the company, taking to Twitter to ask how he could go about doing so.

As far as the conversations go on the app, well, apparently E-40 gave his thoughts on the future of rap, while MC Hammer spoke about COVID-19’s effect on the prisons.

The #ClubhouseChallenge Trend Explained

On October 27th, the #ClubhouseChallenge trend emerged on Twitter, in which people utilize Twitter’s new voice recording feature to record themselves speaking to a presumed audience, as though in a Clubhouse chat room. In their recordings, users rattle off nonsensical statements one after the other, poking fun at the manner in which people discuss issues on Clubhouse, trying so hard not to offend anyone that they actually end up saying a whole lot of nothing. Other #ClubhouseChallenge videos simply mock the outlandish statements that are sometimes said on the platform; listen to some examples below.

Are you vying for a spot on the up-and-coming platform’s member list? Let us know if you’re familiar with the app yet in the comments.

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BTS Members Reunite As Jungkook Shares Emotional Message

The youngest member of BTS, Jungkook, shared a loving and sentimental message that warmed the hearts of millions worldwide. Jungkook, who is currently serving his mandatory military service in South Korea, took time to communicate with his fans, known as ARMY, not only expressing his love and appreciation for them but also outlining how he is feeling during this time of service. His message came amid a monumental moment, the reunion of BTS members, a rare but precious thing since most of the group is currently in the military.

The meeting of BTS members in the middle of their military service, however briefly, is very meaningful and symbolic for the group and their fanbase. Mandatory military service in South Korea obliges all able-bodied men to serve their country, and BTS has continued to fulfill its duties as a global icon. Even as they take a break together as a group, the connection between the seven members is stronger than ever. This reunion proved that sentiment, and it was a beautiful reminder of their togetherness for fans.

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The emotional letter from Jungkook also provided a rare insight into what went through the mind of a “BTS” member while he was away from the stage. His signature for his business ways is still somehow calm, as we all know. Yet Jungkook, making this an opportunity, speaks directly to the ARMY. He mentioned how he always thinks about his fans and that their unchanging support has helped him during the hard times of his military service.

His message was a bridge linking the stage lights, roaring crowds, and musical performances of the past to the quiet discipline and structure of military life. In a heartwarming letter, Jungkook assured fans that he takes them along with him, even during periods of silence and absence. For fans of BTS, Jungkook’s letter was a testament of connection and loyalty. Being one of the most loved members, Jungkook has had a special bond with the fandom.

His journey has always been entangled with the love and encouragement of ARMY. His message reinforced that this connection is reciprocal and genuine. The context of the BTS reunion only helped amplify the emotional impact of his letter. Seeing the members back together, even in military uniform, was a powerful image. It was a visual affirmation of their brotherhood and dedication to their fans and their country. For a group that has broken records, crossed cultural barriers, and become ambassadors of global youth, this moment was a return to their roots.

Jungkook’s message was also very much about gratitude. He was humble and thankful, recognizing the sacrifices that fans make during their wait for the return, fans who are understandably anxious. He vowed to return stronger and better, a motif that followed BTS’s road. The fans supported them as they found their way in the music industry, took tours, and performed on big stages. It was about developing, improving, and trying to be the best they could be for the message they spread.

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His letter was so emotional and personal that it reminded everyone that BTS is beyond a music group. In times of stillness, their impact resounds through society, shaping lives in the most significant sense. While members still serve in the military, fans worldwide stick to these moments that assure them the connection is alive, thriving, and still biding its time until the day they all meet again in front of an audience. Jungkook’s message was a lovely confirmation of that promise.

Saying something so warm and sincere reminded ARMY what they already knew, that BTS is never far away from our hearts even if physically apart. In times like this, when the world feels somewhat chaotic and uncertain, messages like Jungkook’s remind us of the eternal strength of love and loyalty. As the countdown to their eventual full reunion begins, fans can take solace in the fact that BTS is thinking about them as much as they are missed. And when that day comes, when the seven members stand together again in public, it’s going to be a homecoming.

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Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper’s Relationship Milestones: Engagement on the Horizon?

Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper, two of Hollywood’s most in-demand stars, just enjoy the quiet of spending time together. Rumors and speculations about their romantic relationship have surfaced over the past months, and many wonder if an engagement is ahead. They have not made any major pronouncements yet, but the couple’s relationship is rooted in a profound sense of commitment to their families, especially their children from previous partnerships.

Foundations of the Relationship

Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid are two of the most beautiful people on the planet. With their own histories of romantic entanglements, they appear to have found in each other a kind of fusion of their careers, personalities, and family lives. Still, perhaps their biggest coup is how they’ve managed to keep a good deal of their romance and household matters behind closed doors despite the pressure of the public eye. Their appearances together have been few but replete with warmth and affection.

Their relationship has flourished over time, and they are frequently seen having casual hangouts. Be it a cozy dinner or some quality time outside, their rapport is characterized by a silent yet powerful chemistry. However, they are not rushing to take the next big step, such as an engagement. Gigi and Bradley have said they are in no rush, figuring it takes time to see where something goes.

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Importance of Family Mean In Their Relationship

Something that bonds them is their shared focus on family. Gigi to her daughter, Khai, whom she shares with the singer Zayn Malik, and Bradley to his daughter, Lea, whom he shares with the model Irina Shayk. Even though they have been married before, they have dedicated themselves to being active participants in their kids’ lives.

With Gigi, being a mother is front and center in her life, and she is known for putting her daughter first. Bradley, too, is a fierce protector of his daughter, Lea, and we know he loves her dearly from interviews and social posts. They clearly respect each other’s parental roles, which is undoubtedly a huge contributor to their strong relationship, and we can tell that they are committed to co-parenting in a supportive and collaborative way.

Indeed, family gatherings play an integral role in their relationship. They both have taken to spending time with each other’s kids, and their families appear to have forged a bond of their own. Gigi and Bradley have been seen together in public throughout, often with their families in tow, seemingly supporting one other’s parenting duties. This commitment to stay close to their children is just one of the many benchmarks in their relationship, which embodies their strong dedication not only to one another but also to the happiness and health of their kids.

Engagement

Though they have made their few months together look like one long date and have an emotional connection, with lives united with children, people close to the couple are adamant they are not racing toward engagement. Engagement is a big deal for anyone, but for Gigi and Bradley, it’s huge. They’ve both been through former relationships, and it’s clear that they approach marriage and engagement with consideration and thoughtfulness.

Gigi especially has expressed how crucial it is to build a steady and sound setting for her baby beloved, Khai. She has repeatedly stated that her personal relationships must be consistent with her position as a mother, as she would like her daughter to learn in a healthy and loving environment. Bradley’s history with Irina Shayk has also shown him a thing or two. In interviews, he has discussed how becoming a father has changed his priorities, and he currently values stability, trust, and mutual respect above all else in a romantic partnership.

Both of them are not rushing into the decision to get engaged. Given how complex it is to meld two families and figure out parts of their careers, they know it’s important to take their time hammering out a good foundation. Both appear to be happy with where their relationship stands, prioritizing what’s really important, which is having a happy, healthy family and supporting each other.

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Future Together

Although neither Gigi nor Bradley have publicly addressed an engagement, fans are holding out hope that the relationship will continue to blossom and grow. Given the incredible success that both have achieved in their respective careers, it would be easy to presume that it would be only a matter of time before engagement was on the cards. However, the couple places their joy and the interests of their kids above the pressures of public expectation.

As they explore their romance, they’ll probably be careful not to pace themselves with too many milestones. They are constructing a solid foundation, one built on love, trust, and family. Though an engagement isn’t exactly around the corner, Gigi and Bradley’s romance is among the most hotly discussed in all of Hollywood, and their loyal supporters are placing bets on what’s next for this power couple. Whether they get engaged or not, their bond seems to be one that will only get stronger with time.

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