Clubhouse's social media magic attracted Oprah, Elon Musk and me. But can it last?

Clubhouse — the new social media platform based on live audio conversations — began as a space dominated by Silicon Valley and tech influencers. But it has steadily grown over the last few months into a broader platform that now hosts everyone from U.S. billionaires to Chinese dissidents. Talks by Bill Gates and Elon Musk have captured the attention of many, and the app now boasts 10 million global installs. Amid the buzz, the space has reminded us of the internet’s original promise in terms of collaboration and community. But it’s also showing us the depressing limitations of social media as we currently use it.You can only join Clubhouse if you are invited, and it is all based on phone contacts, grounding it in real-life relationships — at least to start.Clubhouse looks and feels completely different from other social media platforms since there is little text, no pictures (apart from profile pictures, which are optional) and no videos.What remains is something in between a phone call and a webinar, where users can browse virtual rooms, raise their hand if they want to talk (permission must be given) and “leave quietly” if they aren’t enjoying the conversation.You can only join Clubhouse…
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