Somehow, we knew Clubhouse would add DM as a feature on its audio app. Finally, it landed yesterday, as the company launched its direct messaging feature, Backchannel. This is for all users on both iOS and Android.
This official launch follows last month’s snafu when Clubhouse, by accident, leaked the feature to a group of selected users who saw the update Apple App store and Google PlayStore for iOS and Android devices respectively.
For now, users can have one-on-one chats, group chats, and also send links during conversations. Though Clubhouse is yet to provide a feature that allows users to send images or videos, a spokesperson has confirmed that feature is coming soon, along with a “few other tools.”
There will also be an additional secondary inbox for handling message requests. This is similar to the Instagram DM feature where message requests from people you don’t know lives until you approve them.
Looks like Clubhouse wants to use Backchannel to enable moderators to communicate among themselves during a live conversation room. This will create the opportunity for people to connect after an event; and broadly, foster text conversations that otherwise would have to take place in a separate platform from Clubhouse, who knows.
To DM while on Clubhouse, search for the little paper airplane icon (similar to that on Instagram) on the user’s profile page or just swipe right from the main menu to display the feature. It’s good to note that right now you can’t delete any message once delivered (although you can copy or report them!). Clubhouse wants you to be be sure you really mean whatever it is that you are backchanneling about.
The Company also envisions there will be more options as the text chat elements expand and build rapidly. More news on this as Clubhouse continues to add new features like this to enhance its community connection.
