Trouble with this article is that it is speculative opinion wrapped in the guise of analysis and thoughtfulness.

Clubhouse usage is higher now than in February. The app experience has improved significantly over the past several months. Other competitive offerings are ghost towns or have such limited appeal that it excludes broader audiences.

The history of social is that the app that takes the early lead wins the category. Instagram led with photos, Twitter with short text, Snap with stories, TikTok with short videos. They all to an extent got copied, but it never hampered growth or market dominance. They all were left for dead at some point. That they were just a “feature” missed the point. That feature, the unique experience, and already established user base early on that got the vibe of that experience allowed that “feature” to thrive as a standalone experience.

It really does not matter how much money other social players have. History is littered with nimbler upstarts that ran circles around incumbents and competitors. Facebook is a textbook example of this, which has either had to buy the competition (Instagram), or settle for being a distant also ran.

There have been so many articles already about the demise of Clubhouse. Before it was too exclusive. Now it is not exclusive enough. Before it was not enough hype. Now it is too much hype. What really matters? The data on usage is pretty clear that Clubhouse is not only here to stay, but that it will be the leader for the long haul.