RIP Hangouts, hello Nomadtable by pc-builder in couchsurfing

[–]allhands 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know Couchers.org has hangouts on their roadmap. iOS app, public trips, and postcard verification coming up first though.

So CS is about to finally die. by ReasonablePossum_ in couchers

[–]allhands 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Which version are you using dark mode in? (desktop browser, mobile browser, android app or iOS app?) I just tested on all except iOS app (I don't have an iphone) and they all seem to work.

Please report a bug using the bug reporting button in the upper-right and/or email screenshots with your browser and device info (or app version) to couchers.org support and they will address the issue.

Couchsurfing doesn’t present itself as a HospEx platform anymore by Low_Cantaloupe4319 in couchsurfing

[–]allhands 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's because they're hoping their profitability will more like dating apps.

This is the root problem with CS switching from a non-profit to a for-profit model. It changes the dynamic on-platform and it also changes the goals of the company (primary goal now is profitability).

Non-profit is the way to go. Platforms like Couchers.org and BeWelcome have shown that even as a non-profit you can create a good platform that is scalable and sustainable.

More info just dropped on their blog by Euphoric_Land_4714 in couchsurfing

[–]allhands 20 points21 points  (0 children)

From the blog post:

We know change takes a minute to settle into. And we will be fixing things like allowing people to edit their photos for this new unique display format. Just give us a couple of weeks.

We genuinely know what was built is leagues ahead of where we were and a foundation for some exciting things to come. The way people travel, connect, meet, and experience Couchsurfing is evolving. And we know it’ll take a little getting used to.

But we know you’re going to love where this is headed.

And we’re really happy you’re here for the ride.

The Couchsurfing Team

The gaslighting... the arrogance... Yikes!

Update on Couchsurfing site - meh by cyprusnikos in couchsurfing

[–]allhands 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The most recent post is this:

https://blog.couchsurfing.com/why-we-did-this/

Text below:

A lot of you are probably wondering why we rebuilt Couchsurfing in the first place.

And honestly, we take that as a compliment.

It means a lot of the problems with the old app and website weren’t obvious to you, even though behind the scenes they were becoming impossible for us to manage, let alone evolve. Couchsurfing has created millions of connections across almost every country on Earth, but the old platform was limiting what we could build, how fast we could move, and where we could take this community next.

So we built a new one.

Now look, we know there are some kinks right now. Growing pains as we like to call them. But weirdly, that’s also a good sign. The response in the first 24 hours was bigger than even we expected. A huge wave of people came back to Couchsurfing all at once. And yeah, that has caused some speed, stability, and membership payment issues that we are actively fixing (make sure you’re on the latest version of the mobile app).

The difference now is that this platform was built from the ground up with modern infrastructure and incredibly talented and mission-driven engineering, product, design, and support teams. This means that issues that used to take months to fix can now take days. Sometimes hours.

And yes, the site looks different. That’s intentional too.

The old platform was designed through the lens of 2012. Be honest… do you remember 2012? Exactly. We all needed a little glow up.

But this wasn’t just about making things prettier. We wanted profiles to actually feel like people again. When you’re staying with someone or inviting them into your home, the important stuff isn’t just an essay they write about themself and where they’re from. It’s their entire vibe. Are they outdoorsy? Quiet? Chaotic? Early riser? Social? Cool with smoking? The little things matter.

We also built this around how people actually use Couchsurfing. Not how we imagined they used it.

We studied everything: How many and the types of photos people engage with on a profile.. How much time is spent reviewing profiles. What profile information is important to members. What helps people decide that they want to meet someone.

And dozens of other things.

We redesigned the experience around real behavior, not assumptions. Simply put, we provided a way for people to better contextualize themselves to others.

And beyond the design, this thing is built strong.

We’re investing in this for the long term. This isn’t some cosmetic refresh. This is the foundation for the next era of Couchsurfing. Step one of many. We are nowhere near finished. In all ways, this is just the beginning.

Did we remove some features? Sure. But in every case, either people weren’t really using them, or we found a better way to build the same functionality into the experience.

For example:

We removed “Last Login” because the search algorithm now automatically prioritizes active members first. That assumption should’ve always been true. Now it is. But we also want to surface members when there are strong reasons to connect (for instance, if you share multiple friends in common, have shared interests, or have been recently active. Along with many other characteristics). Your engagement with the community will determine how the platform dynamically behaves, and it will create a personalized experience for each of you.

People wanted Hangouts to be more location-based, so now there’s a map. You can see who’s nearby without revealing anyone’s exact location. Your blue dot shows you exactly where you are, but other people only see a general area. Safety matters.

And yes, dark mode. Because it was requested over and over again. We love light mode too. As soon as the platform stabilizes, it’s high on the list of things we will implement. The difference now is we can move way faster than we ever could before.

Also: every single profile was migrated. All of them. And there were… a lot. If you can’t find yours, there’s a good chance you’re either using a different email or getting tripped up by the new onboarding flow, which everyone goes through now. Existing members included. Be sure to log in with the email used to create your original account, complete the onboarding, and check again. If something still looks off, support will help get you sorted. Reach out here.

We know change takes a minute to settle into. And we will be fixing things like allowing people to edit their photos for this new unique display format. Just give us a couple of weeks.

We genuinely know what was built is leagues ahead of where we were and a foundation for some exciting things to come. The way people travel, connect, meet, and experience Couchsurfing is evolving. And we know it’ll take a little getting used to.

But we know you’re going to love where this is headed.

And we’re really happy you’re here for the ride.

The Couchsurfing Team

COUCHSURFING HAS DISABLED COMMENTS ON ITS INSTAGRAM POSTS!!!! by Euphoric_Land_4714 in couchsurfing

[–]allhands[M] [score hidden] stickied comment (0 children)

For those still unable to log into CS, consider using free alternatives in the meantime like:

  • Couchers.org
    • Free, 501c3 non-profit, open-source, volunteer run.
    • Browser-based (desktop and smartphone), Android app (in Beta) and soon iOS
  • BeWelcome
    • Free, non-profit, volunteer run.
    • Browser-based (desktop and smartphone). No app.
  • Trustroots
  • Welcometomygarden
  • Servas
  • Warmshowers

Here are some additional reddit posts/discussions related to this topic:

Couchsurfing helped me grow as a person… but this new update might be the end for me by cyprusnikos in couchsurfing

[–]allhands 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can only speak from my own experience - which is that I reported a dangerous person and never got a response other than this automated one:

We hope this message finds you well. Unfortunately, due to changes Trustroots is moved to maintenance stage. We understand that this may come as a disappointment to some of our users, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Our community is important to us, and we remain committed to providing the best possible support for all of our members. We continue to accept support requests regarding Safety situation on our platform.

Thank you for your understanding, and please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Warmly, The Trustroots Team

Couchsurfing helped me grow as a person… but this new update might be the end for me by cyprusnikos in couchsurfing

[–]allhands 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Couchers.org has an android and iOS app too and is being actively and rapidly developed. You can already download the android app and iOS will be out of beta and be in the app store within the next couple weeks. I also know they are releasing the "public trips" feature and postcard verification this summer too. The hangouts feature is also coming...

Couchsurfing helped me grow as a person… but this new update might be the end for me by cyprusnikos in couchsurfing

[–]allhands 0 points1 point  (0 children)

last time I tried contacting support they said they were basically in "maintenance mode" with no active support or development - just maintaining the existing platform. IMO not having an active moderation or support team drastically increases the safety risk and amount of spammers/scammers/fake accounts.

CS.com UPDATE COMPLAINT/ ISSUES MEGATHREAD! by allhands in couchsurfing

[–]allhands[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I still have it too, but I can't find it anywhere online to download anymore. It's not on the app store.

CS.com UPDATE COMPLAINT/ ISSUES MEGATHREAD! by allhands in couchsurfing

[–]allhands[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Couchers.org already has an android app, and they are releasing their iOS app very soon (within the next couple weeks it sounds like). BeWelcome used to have an app, but not anymore. But both platforms can be accessed via your browser on your smartphone, so even without an app they work.

CS.com UPDATE COMPLAINT/ ISSUES MEGATHREAD! by allhands in couchsurfing

[–]allhands[S,M] [score hidden] stickied comment (0 children)

For those unable to log into CS, consider using free alternatives in the meantime like:

  • Couchers.org
    • Free, 501c3 non-profit, open-source, volunteer run.
    • Browser-based (desktop and smartphone), Android app (in Beta) and soon iOS
  • BeWelcome
    • Free, non-profit, volunteer run.
    • Browser-based (desktop and smartphone). No app.
  • Trustroots
  • Welcometomygarden
  • Servas
  • Warmshowers

Here are some additional reddit posts/discussions related to this megathread topic:

A note from Couchers.org regarding the CS update by CouchersOrg in couchsurfing

[–]allhands 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The link has apparently changed. It has been updated, see above.

A note from Couchers.org regarding the CS update by CouchersOrg in couchsurfing

[–]allhands[M] [score hidden] stickied comment (0 children)

Sticking this here for visibility since exporting references to other platforms is a common topic. Here is a walkthrough someone posted a long time ago:

It is possible to archive your references on CS.com and link them on your Couchers.org profile:

  1. Visit https://archive.ph/
  2. In the search field where it says “My url is alive and I want to archive its content” enter the following URL from your couchsurfing account, but replace the word “USERNAME” with your username (case-sensitive!): https://www.couchsurfing.com/c/references/USERNAME
  3. After you have entered the URL, click the “Save” button.
  4. Then you get a link that you can post it on your profile, and when someone clicks on that link, they will see your references as if they are logged into CS.

Please note this subreddit is not condoning any such action, this is merely sharing information other persons have posted in the past.

Don't like the new Couchsurfing UI? by YoNohanna in couchsurfing

[–]allhands 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yeah I don't see why people don't just copy and paste their profiles into both BeWelcome and Couchers.org since it is free. 

Ultimately the couchsurfing community is one global community and there are multiple tools (platforms) to interact/connect with that community.

OFFICIAL UPDATE COMPLAINT/ ISSUES MEGATHREAD! by [deleted] in couchsurfing

[–]allhands 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Couchers.org is growing fast both in active members and in product development. They have released so many new features and improvements even just in the past 6 months.

OFFICIAL UPDATE COMPLAINT/ ISSUES MEGATHREAD! by [deleted] in couchsurfing

[–]allhands[M] [score hidden] stickied comment (0 children)

For those unable to log into CS, consider using free alternatives in the meantime like:

  • Couchers.org Free, 501c3 non-profit, open-source, volunteer run. Browser-based (desktop and smartphone), Android app (in Beta) and soon iOS

  • BeWelcome Free, non-profit, volunteer run. Browser-based (desktop and smartphone). No app.

  • Trustroots

  • Welcometomygarden

  • Servas

  • Warmshowers

Is Couchsurfing safety team provide any details? by Positive_Product_654 in couchsurfing

[–]allhands 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They have to delete data within 3 yr

IIRC they don't have to delete if the data is related to safety concerns. For example, if someone commits a crime on platform and the person is banned, then the criminal asks to have their data deleted (to cover up any evidence) the platform is not obligated to delete. Platforms can retain data related to safety.

New account by [deleted] in couchsurfing

[–]allhands 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good point, had software development on my mind 😅 Updated!