While Clubhouse is very popular among live-audio social network enthusiasts, it lacks one major feature users would give anything for: direct messages.
It’s annoying when you’re engaged in a lively room, and want to connect to someone, you have to go to their profile, find their Twitter or Instagram handle and message them there. That’s probably about to change.
[Read:Why entrepreneurship in emerging markets matters]
Clubhouse accidentally leaked its under-development chat feature called Backchannel. This UI element disappeared very quickly after some users noticed it, so we don’t know muchabout how it’ll supposedly work. Check out the video in the tweet below for a glimpse of the feature.
Wow looks like accidental update of@clubhouseenabled in app backchannel & switch of side bar & full experience.
Seems it’s rolled back now but from what I saw it was beautiful!!
On stage > move to hallway > hit arrow > back channel popped up!@jowyang@GaryLHendersonpic.twitter.com/5bJfVlg7t5
— Brian Fanzo ? Keynote Speaker $ADHD (@iSocialFanz)June 18, 2021
Calling all Scaleup founders! Join the Soonicorn Summit on November 28 in Amsterdam.
Meet with the leaders of Picnic, Miro, Carbon Equity and more during this exclusive event dedicated to Scaleup Founders!
The company’s founder had previously mentionedthe possibility of building a DM backchannel in a townhall room. He said that the company has to think about making “sure that the feature enhances the experience rather than taking away from the experience.” Potentially, he’s referring to a scenario where users may send unsolicited messages to others.
Here’s a comment where@pdavisonmentions the need for a backchannel of sorts (where people can DM each other) for@Clubhouseduring a recent town hall.
/via@_SimonLaucc@morqon@BryanMeneguspic.twitter.com/qTwTDN6GZU
— Chris Messina (@chrismessina)June 21, 2021
We’ve asked Clubhouse for a comment, and we’ll update the story if we hear back.
This new development comes days after Spotify launched its own real-time conversation app calledGreenroom. Incidentally, that app has a chat feature that lets you connect with another person in the app via text. With the number of live audio apps rising, Clubhouse wouldn’t want to miss out on critical features like this and potentially lose users early in this game.
Story byIvan Mehta
Ivan covers Big Tech, India, policy, AI, security, platforms, and apps for TNW. That’s one heck of a mixed bag. He likes to say “Bleh.“Ivan covers Big Tech, India, policy, AI, security, platforms, and apps for TNW. That’s one heck of a mixed bag. He likes to say “Bleh.”
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.
