December 16, 2016

A New Way to Call: A Beginner’s Guide to Houseparty

Technology has come along leaps and bounds in the last ten years, with mobile applications such as Facebook Messenger, Snapchat and now even Instagram dictating how we communicate and exactly how we present ourselves to the world.
Now, we have a new kid on the block who’s looking to compete with these well-established brands by bringing in fresh ideas and further developing our need for constant communication.
Introducing ‘Houseparty’. If you’re not quite sure what we’re talking about, you’re in the right place. Here we have an in depth breakdown of what it is, who it’s for and how it works.

So, What Is It?

 

Thanks everyone for spreading the 🏠🎉❤️!

A photo posted by Houseparty (@houseparty) on

First released in February 2016, Houseparty is a video calling app that allows you to communicate with up to 8 people at a time.
While traditionally video calling has been available to most iPhone and Android users, it’s confined to two people at a time.
Houseparty however has introduced the concept of group video chats, which allows you to livestream with multiple people regardless of their individual locations.
And the app has seen enormous growth over its debut year, with over 1million daily users worldwide which begs the question, who is this app really for?

Targeting Generation Z

 

That one person who doesn’t study and is just on Houseparty…..

A photo posted by Houseparty (@houseparty) on

 

 

According to app creators Sima Sistani and Ben Rubin, Houseparty was built with Generation Z in mind.

“We did a lot of research and thinking around Generation Z, kids born in the mid-1990s to early 2000s, and how they use social media and what kind of experience they are looking for.”

With that in mind, they set out to develop a programme that would allow for more authentic ways of communicating with the world, with the app being less centred on how people present themselves in the best way possible, and more concerned with genuine interaction.
Aimed at a 16-24 demographic, it appears as though Houseparty is built to cater to people’s increasingly busy lifestyles. If all members of the family or friendship group can’t be in the same place at the same time, there’s now a way to ensure everybody keeps in touch without too much interference into their already overcrowded schedules.

Can it Compete?

 

~ Sushi burritos and Houseparty = a successful study break~

A photo posted by Houseparty (@houseparty) on

 

 

There’s no denying that mobile applications are the way to go in regards to communication, but with so many big names already developing new and increasingly innovative ways to keep in touch, it could be difficult for a relative newcomer to break into the big leagues.
In saying this, Houseparty does have a few big names attached to its app. Instagram favourites such as Hailey Baldwin have been spotted using the app, alongside NBA player Chandler Parsons.
While it’s difficult to tell as to whether Houseparty will make it as must have, the idea is relatively new and seems to tap into a gap in the market that hadn’t been filled by any other big communications based applications such as Whatsapp and Snapchat as of yet.
As the New Year approaches, Houseparty is yielding positive results, but in a world where popular applications such as Vine are being cut at the push of a button, sustaining its success will be a difficult task.

(Images: Houseparty’s Facebook page)