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I downloaded it and tried to sign up, but then it asked me to enter my mobile number. Instant turn off. Why do I need to register with my mobile number? I pr

I downloaded it and tried to sign up, but then it asked me to enter my mobile number. Instant turn off. Why do I need to register with my mobile number? I prefer to register with an email address.

graeme 6y ago
At some point people on HN have to recognize that we’re almost reverse predictors of mainstream popularity. I’d prefer email too, but....clubhouse is social, and on a phone. How do people message each other on a phone, and how do they store contacts? Via phone number. How comfortable are people giving phone numbers? Super comfortable! Just look at the growth. And then it is frictionless to invite friends. Friction is the killer of anything that aspires to be popular. This does have rough implications for security and privacy, but those can come later once growth is achieved.
- uxcolumbo 6y ago
  Yes, you're right, most people don't care about this. But what is clubhouse using the mobile number for? So people can message each other using that number? I doubt it. Surely it has in app messaging? And in terms of frictionless, the easiest would have been to generate an automatic ID and let the user choose a username. Typing in an email address or phone number takes the same amount of effort I would assume.
  - DorianSinDeep 6y ago
    I can't speak with any authority on Clubhouse but I imagine it uses mobile numbers to create a social graph exactly like Signal does. A robust social graph seems like an important prerequisite to any successful social network and our phonebooks are one of the oldest social graphs present.
  - graeme 6y ago
    No in app messaging. It uses the phone number to send a text or iMessage invite to your contact. Clubhouse is presently invite only. So you have one tap invites.
    - uxcolumbo 6y ago
      Thanks for clarifying. It would help if they'd clarified that on the first step of registration, e.g. 'Hey, we need your number so you can message other clubhouse members and also invite your friends.' or something like that.

I downloaded it and tried to sign up, but then it asked me to enter my mobile number. Instant turn off. Why do I need to register with my mobile number? I prefer to register with an email address.

graeme 6y ago

At some point people on HN have to recognize that we’re almost reverse predictors of mainstream popularity. I’d prefer email too, but....clubhouse is social, and on a phone. How do people message each other on a phone, and how do they store contacts? Via phone number. How comfortable are people giving phone numbers? Super comfortable! Just look at the growth. And then it is frictionless to invite friends. Friction is the killer of anything that aspires to be popular. This does have rough implications for security and privacy, but those can come later once growth is achieved.

uxcolumbo 6y ago
Yes, you're right, most people don't care about this. But what is clubhouse using the mobile number for? So people can message each other using that number? I doubt it. Surely it has in app messaging? And in terms of frictionless, the easiest would have been to generate an automatic ID and let the user choose a username. Typing in an email address or phone number takes the same amount of effort I would assume.
- DorianSinDeep 6y ago
  I can't speak with any authority on Clubhouse but I imagine it uses mobile numbers to create a social graph exactly like Signal does. A robust social graph seems like an important prerequisite to any successful social network and our phonebooks are one of the oldest social graphs present.
- graeme 6y ago
  No in app messaging. It uses the phone number to send a text or iMessage invite to your contact. Clubhouse is presently invite only. So you have one tap invites.
  - uxcolumbo 6y ago
    Thanks for clarifying. It would help if they'd clarified that on the first step of registration, e.g. 'Hey, we need your number so you can message other clubhouse members and also invite your friends.' or something like that.