Finally, after TikTok, there’s some hype for our age group and it has a name: Clubhouse. After only a few weeks, Clubhouse has overrun the whole of Germany. Everyone in our bubble is using it, even though the app is supposedly still in beta and only available to Apple users, and the app is only accessible by invitation link.
Although the trend is slowing down according to a study, 48% of Germans have heard of Clubhouse and four percent already use it once a week on average. The appeal of the app is the combination of podcast with voice. It’s a bit like radio where everyone gets to join in!
Clubhouse: a platform for sustainable finance?
With a special eye on my favorite topics, finance and sustainability, I took a closer look at Clubhouse. Does the platform talk about sustainable investment and the payment behaviour of Generation Y? Or what sustainability-related topics are present there? Who’s there and what do they have to say. Attempt starts! Phone on, app downloaded and off you go!
Thank goodness I am well connected and quickly had my invitation link. I went looking forward to it, because I think the idea of exchanging ideas with like-minded people on very specific topics is great. Ideas that can solve many problems can emerge from the exchange – and that with people from all over the world, because even celebrities like Nico Rosberg or Elon Musk use Clubhouse. Talks with up to 400 participants are not uncommon. Just go into a talk and discuss EU taxonomy with XYZ. I might have gotten a lot more fodder for my last column via Clubhouse that way? Who knows.
Once again no separate category for sustainability
But when I got started, I had to soberingly realize, as on many platforms, that sustainability – as is unfortunately so often the case – is not a separate category. I could “once again” only search for economics, philosophy, etc.
Since I’m already used to this, I used my trick 17. I started tracking down friends and familiar faces in the sustainability industry. Through my network I then came across topics that I found quite appealing.
- impact investing
- How to build a business for impact and profit
- What legal framework do we need for climate protection?
- Consious Consumerism: changing the world together!
Topic found. Time blocked. Participated … and left the room early.
And there are several reasons for that. But since I’m all for green finance, I noticed two things in particular: Spaces are used for massive marketing and the discussions are therefore not really interesting. Also, it’s hard to come up with your own question. The topics were elaborated rather superficially.
Twitter and Co. work better for the topic of sustainability
Therefore, I do not yet see any real added value for the topic of “sustainable banking” (at present). Because even though I like the idea, other social networks are better. Twitter already has a very science-based exchange now. On Instagram, there is a lively exchange on application-oriented sustainability topics, including questions about zero waste, fair fashion, etc. In addition, actors, e.g. from Fridays for Future, also use other networks.
That’s why the big question mark is still behind the Clubhouse issue for me. What added value will it have for the topic of sustainable banking? I like the idea and the execution. But how will Clubhouse differentiate itself from the other platforms like Twitter, Instagram and co in the area of sustainability?
Clubhouse would have potential if…
To judge, I will continue to monitor who else in my network is actively joining Clubhouse. Because if the sustainability community strengthens, this raises the potential immensely, because in view of advancing climate change in the shadow of current problems, we need a space for the exchange of ideas and conceptions of ideas. This could also succeed on Clubhouse, if
- effective recommendations for action are made instead of superficial sustainability issues
- instead of self-profiling, exchange takes place at eye level
- instead of the elitist Apple user community, the broad masses also exchange views on sustainability issues
If we no longer have to search for sustainability in the Clubhouse search filter, because we know that all categories have made sustainability a matter of course – then we have achieved a big step. For sure I will look at Clubhouse with completely different eyes.
I’m off then – the next Clubhouse Talk begins.