Chat with friends even after a room ends: Clubhouse launches direct messages feature 'Blackchannel'

Social audio app Clubhouse on Wednesday launched a new feature called 'Backchannel', a direct messaging update to allow one-to-one and group text chats.

The invite-only app saw a huge growth during the Covid-19 pandemic as people turned to find social comfort in a digital world. Clubhouse's sudden popularity pushed tech giants such as Facebook, Twitter and Spotify to explore the audio-chat market with their own similar features, and the new feature 'Blackchannel' is the audio app's entry into the world of texting.

The feature has both one-on-one and group chat, and an optional second inbox for message requests. With this, you can chat with your Clubhouse friends even after the room ends.


The feature will also allow speakers to take questions from people via text, and also co-ordinate with co-hosts in real-time.

'Backchannel' will also make planning events easier as users can now coordinate with their co-hosts, organise questions, decide on guests before going live.

The social audio app said that it has added over 8 million new users since it's launch in late May on Android, according to a report in Reuters. Clubhouse said that the ability to direct message was one of its most requested features by users.