The fatal flaw of Clubhouse

Clubhouse appears to be the next hot social media platform.

Backed by the prestigious venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and growing faster than Mark Zuckerberg’s bank account, Clubhouse is a platform where users participate in different chat rooms on a wide range of topics. The conversations are audio-only, and when they finish, they disappear forever. It’s like talk radio on steroids — endless, diverse, inclusive. Wading through Clubhouse can be dizzying because there are so many interesting conversations.

Clubhouse is halfway between a podcast and a party. It’s a facilitated discussion, no make-up required. This is why it will displace at least some podcast consumption — you have a chance to actually participate with the hosts, and that’s special.

Another reason Clubhouse has quickly made headlines is that it’s frequented by tech industry movers and shakers and big-time celebrities. People who have tried the app include Oprah, Ashton Kutcher, and Chris Rock, according to the Wall Street Journal. Some have spearheaded conversations, while others have simply hung out and listened. I was in a room where Tiffany Haddish was quietly listening in.

If you want to get a view of the upside of the platform, I recommend turning to this article by Mike Stelzner at Social Media Examiner.

It’s awesome. However, Clubhouse has one severe limitation that could jeopardize its long-term growth and accessibility to a large part of the population. Let’s dissect that today.

Clubhouse and synchronicity

Driven by curiosity, I immersed myself in Clubhouse for a few hours over a couple of days. I didn’t lead any rooms (I plan to try it though!) but just listened, getting a feel for the place. I see the appeal. It’s endlessly fascinating, especially if you want to open yourself to new voices and views. It’s easy to have it on as background noise.

But in the last week, I haven’t used it at all for a simple reason — I’m very busy. And this is a clue to the long-term challenge for Clubhouse.