Clapper (service)

Last updated

Clapper
Initial releaseJuly 2020;4 years ago (2020-07)
Operating system Android, iOS
Type Video sharing
License Proprietary software
Website clapperapp.com

Clapper is an American short-form video-hosting service headquartered in Dallas, Texas. It was founded in 2020 by Edison Chen as an alternative for TikTok for mature audiences. The app is functionally similar to TikTok and includes tipping and e-commerce features.

Contents

Following an influx of far-right content in early 2021, Clapper strengthened its moderation practices. It achieved 2 million monthly active users by 2023, and the number of downloads increased after an US bill that would potentially ban TikTok in the country was signed in 2024.

History

With its offices in Dallas, Texas, Clapper was founded in July 2020 by Chinese-American entrepreneur Edison Chen. Chen considered that most online platforms, such as TikTok, were being targeted to young generations, such as Generation Z. He then concepted Clapper as a service with short-form content for mature audiences among Generation X and millennials, while not intending to compete directly with TikTok. [1] [2] [3] Clapper averaged fewer than ten thousand daily active users during 2020, [3] reaching 500 thousand downloads in the next year. [4] Initially without paying for external advertising, the company raised about $3 million during a 2021 seed funding round. [1] [2]

In 2023, the app reportedly reached about 300 to 400 thousand daily active users [1] [3] and 2 million monthly active users. [1] The average user was between the ages of 35 and 55. [1] Following the April 2024 signing of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which would potentially enact a ban on TikTok in the US in January 2025, Clapper averaged 200 thousand weekly downloads. [2] In 2025, before the day scheduled for the ban (January 19), TikTok users migrated to other apps. As a result, Clapper received 1.4 million new downloads in a week preceding the date. [5] It was listed as the third most-downloaded free app on Apple's App Store on 14 January, behind Xiaohongshu and Lemon8, [6] and the term "TikTok refugee" became a trending term. [7]

Features

Clapper presents similarities with TikTok in its layout, including "Following" and "For You" tabs with videos up to three minutes long [1] that can be liked, commented on or shared. [8] A "Clapback" feature allows users to create responses to videos from others. [9] Users can create livestreams and chat rooms in the app. [1]

Users can tip Clapper creators through its Clapper Fam monetization feature, in place of in-app advertisements. [10] The Clapper Shop allows for e-commerce between users. [11] The service had distributed $10 million to its users in total by 2023, according to Clapper CEO Chen. [1]

Content

Clapper includes a policy requiring users to be at least 17 years of age, [1] [7] although Clapper CEO Chen described that "there is no adult content" on the platform. [3] Lindsay Dodgson of Business Insider described the content as generally outdated and "reminiscent of 'getting owned' compilations of the earlier internet." [8] The Washington Post 's Tatum Hunter characterized Clapper as including sexual or engagement baiting content more prevalently than TikTok. [12]

Moderation

Clapper's team, which had fifteen employees in early 2021, initially stated it would not moderate content as strictly as TikTok and would mostly rely on user reports. [4] Following that year's January 6 United States Capitol attack, far-right conservative videos promoting QAnon and anti-vaccine conspiracy theories appeared on Clapper's "For You" page to a substantial degree for weeks. [1] [4] [9] The videos were made in protest against decisions by platforms, particularly TikTok, to ban such content. [1] [9]

Clapper's team stated in January 10 that its rules prohibiting incitements to violence would be strictly enforced. [9] [13] By February, videos and accounts promoting the conspiracy theories had been removed, and QAnon-related content was banned permanently. [13] Clapper's team hired more content auditors [13] and implemented moderation by artificial intelligence for further community guideline violations. [1] [2]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Martin, Arcella (April 12, 2023). "Built in North Texas, Clapper app finds new users as TikTok uncertainty looms". The Dallas Morning News . Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Johnson, Ted (May 21, 2024). "As the clock ticks on TikTok, rivals like Clapper try to make a mark". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Maddox, Will (May 3, 2023). "Introducing Clapper: A top-ranked Dallas-based app that is TikTok for adults". D Magazine . Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Kelly, Makena (January 28, 2021). "With Parler down, QAnon moves onto a 'free speech' TikTok clone". The Verge . Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  5. ↑ Duffy, Clare (January 16, 2025). "TikTok will be banned without a savior. Here are the alternative apps users are flocking to". CNN . Archived from the original on January 18, 2025. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  6. ↑ Perry, Alex (January 14, 2025). "TikTok could be going away soon. Here are 5 popular alternatives to try instead". The Cincinnati Enquirer . Archived from the original on January 18, 2025. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  7. 1 2 Sloane, Garett; Follett, Gillian (January 15, 2025). "How TikTok alternatives are competing for brands and creators—industry leaders break it down". Ad Age . Archived from the original on January 16, 2025. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Dodgson, Lindsay (May 7, 2024). "I tried the app TikTokers could embrace if a ban becomes reality — I'm not convinced it will attract Gen Zers". Business Insider . Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Ankel, Sophia (March 7, 2021). "'TikTok rejects' cultivate their grievances on video-sharing app Clapper, a refuge for conspiracy theorists, anti-vaxxers, and 'patriot' truckers". Business Insider . Archived from the original on January 19, 2025. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  10. ↑ Schulz, Madeleine (January 16, 2025). "The TikTok ban safety net: 13 social media alternatives to know". Vogue Business . Archived from the original on January 19, 2025. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  11. ↑ Winslow, Levi (January 17, 2025). "5 good TikTok alternatives really popping off right now". Complex . Archived from the original on January 21, 2025. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  12. ↑ Hunter, Tatum (January 14, 2025). "The most popular TikTok alternatives as ban approaches". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on January 14, 2025. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 Kelly, Makena (February 11, 2021). "Clapper permanently bans QAnon-related content". The Verge . Archived from the original on January 13, 2025. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
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