While Clubhouse lags behind Twitter Spaces in this regard, it has been announced that closed captions are now available for Clubhouse chats, beginning on iOS.
closed captioning is here for iOS! update your app now to see it in action in live rooms.
— Clubhouse (@Clubhouse) November 17, 2021
here's a lil' example, in case you need convincing... pic.twitter.com/v2poAjE2Pl
As seen here, the new live captions option will allow users to follow along in text format, improving accessibility while also facilitating expanded usage, with people able to tune in in sound off' situations if they so desire. It can also help to clarify context and meaning, with the added benefit of having written text to support the audio as it plays.
Clubhouse captions are currently only available in English and on iOS, but an additional 12 languages are said to be in beta testing.
As previously stated, captions have been available on Twitter Spaces, which is now arguably the leading audio social platform, since its inception, though Twitter did have the advantage of having a live captioning back-end in place as a carryover from Periscope.
Given the rise of Twitter Spaces, the path for Clubhouse's continued success is more difficult, but the app is still growing, particularly in India, which is now its largest market, according to App Annie download data (10.3m downloads in India vs 5m in the US).
With a much larger potential audience base, and Twitter failing to gain significant traction in the Indian market, Clubhouse may find the region to be a more beneficial focus – so, while its momentum in western markets may have slowed, Clubhouse still has the significant opportunity if it can maximize its take-up in different regions.
And if it can establish a solid foundation, Clubhouse will be able to continue building, which could ensure its long-term success.
So, while it may appear to have fallen behind, Clubhouse still has a path to long-term success, and it has the potential to become a key connective app for a variety of industries and demographic groups.
Closed captions are an additional component to its overall push.