Kurdish youth find space for free speech in new social networking app
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Young Kurds have found a unique space to openly exchange their ideas and opinions in new social networking application Clubhouse.
The invite-only iPhone application allows up to 5,000 users to enter an audio-only chat room dedicated to a preselected topic. Using a swirl of several dialects of Kurdish and English, young people from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and beyond have taken to the app to discuss everything from politics and activism, to entrepreneurship and content creation.
“I very much prefer Clubhouse than any other platform to discuss a topic as it allows me to freely express my thoughts verbally - without being concerned about word limits or writing,” 25-year-old Davar Mohammad told Rudaw English on Sunday.
Established in March 2020, Clubhouse has rapidly spread around the world, being touted as a “free speech haven”. The app briefly evaded censorship in China, letting citizens freely talk about politically charged topics, including the country’s treatment of its Muslim Uyghur minority. In Turkey, student activists in January used the space to instantly publicize information about protests and police raids.
The application is currently invitation only, meaning those wishing to join have to be invited to join by someone who already has access.
“One way that makes the app more interesting is that joining it has to be at the invitation of members, which allows you to selectively invite people that have interest in the same topics that you want to talk about,” Mohammad added. “I co-host a room with a friend of mine every week to discuss a phenomenon in society.”
Upon entering a room with a specified topic, the application gives users the option to raise a virtual hand and have a turn in giving their input on the discussion with others in the room. Unlike other social media applications, Clubhouse does not allow for texting or posting in the audio chat rooms.
“Our focus now is on opening up Clubhouse to the whole world. With that goal in mind for 2021, we have secured a new round in funding,” reads a statement from the application’s co-founders on January 24.
The application reached over 2 million users in early February.
The invite-only iPhone application allows up to 5,000 users to enter an audio-only chat room dedicated to a preselected topic. Using a swirl of several dialects of Kurdish and English, young people from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and beyond have taken to the app to discuss everything from politics and activism, to entrepreneurship and content creation.
“I very much prefer Clubhouse than any other platform to discuss a topic as it allows me to freely express my thoughts verbally - without being concerned about word limits or writing,” 25-year-old Davar Mohammad told Rudaw English on Sunday.
Established in March 2020, Clubhouse has rapidly spread around the world, being touted as a “free speech haven”. The app briefly evaded censorship in China, letting citizens freely talk about politically charged topics, including the country’s treatment of its Muslim Uyghur minority. In Turkey, student activists in January used the space to instantly publicize information about protests and police raids.
The application is currently invitation only, meaning those wishing to join have to be invited to join by someone who already has access.
“One way that makes the app more interesting is that joining it has to be at the invitation of members, which allows you to selectively invite people that have interest in the same topics that you want to talk about,” Mohammad added. “I co-host a room with a friend of mine every week to discuss a phenomenon in society.”
Upon entering a room with a specified topic, the application gives users the option to raise a virtual hand and have a turn in giving their input on the discussion with others in the room. Unlike other social media applications, Clubhouse does not allow for texting or posting in the audio chat rooms.
“Our focus now is on opening up Clubhouse to the whole world. With that goal in mind for 2021, we have secured a new round in funding,” reads a statement from the application’s co-founders on January 24.
The application reached over 2 million users in early February.