New Social Media Powerhouse Clubhouse may actually be good for your Mental Health!
By Jane Kuszmaul
Traditional social media can have negative effects on mental health, seeing other people’s lives as flawless, communicating through carefully curated words and images, feeding into low self esteem. But Clubhouse is unique, in its focus not on the visual, but the audio.
Members listen to relatively informal discussions and presentations around specific topics of interest led by experts who organize the groups. The format allows the audience to request permission to speak as well, allowing for a well moderated, but inclusive interaction.
Clubhouse has the benefits all social media apps do of connecting people of similar interests, but far-flung locations. In a time of isolation, with minimized day to day interactions, these connections are invaluable. And unlike traditional social media, Clubhouse does not have filters on their images, and leans heavily on spoken communications, eliciting more organic and intimate connections.
While surely not an app to replace our loved ones, Clubhouse offers a next step in social media, wedding the comfort of radio with the immediacy and niche specificity of the internet today. A Mental Health Summit, headed by Shannon Abbot (see https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6771786659152375808/) chose to hold their virtual conference over Clubhouse, and the popularity of the decision was so profound that their four-hour event stretched to four days, including experts volunteering their knowledge and sharing resources from around the globe.
It is refreshing to find a platform actualizing its potential to bring people closer together in a time of isolation and depression!
For more details on both Clubhouse and the Mental Health Summit, check out this excellent more in-depth piece in Forbes:
