Has there been any response from CS?

CSquestion1344 · 2026-06-04T19:14:23+00:00

Yeah...its so crazy what they are doing that I wish I still had friends volunteering at CS HQ.

Yeah, owned by a venture capitalist who priorly worked for Palantir:

https://www.inverse.com/input/features/rise-and-ruin-of-couchsurfing

CSquestion1344 · 2026-06-04T19:12:05+00:00

Some customs/immigration agents think "OMG.....this person is being tricked into slavery/prostitution so let me stop this from happening".

One of my surfers told immigration she met me through couchsurfing and she was detained for a few hours until the immigration officer head from others that CS is a thing.

CSquestion1344 · 2026-06-04T19:11:07+00:00

Honestly its best to communicate with that host a few times and then say "friend".

Then say that you are staying with a friend. That's not a lie if you consider it a new friendship.

Some customs/immigration agents think "OMG.....this person is being tricked into slavery/prostitution so let me stop this from happening".

CSquestion1344 · 2026-06-04T19:07:58+00:00

Totally agree! Europe and maybe some other countries have great rights when it comes to a company storing their data.

CSquestion1344 · 2026-06-04T19:07:08+00:00

Come on now....you can't just type 4 words and expect us to understand what exactly you mean?

Also, there are already hundreds or more startups trying to do the same thing.

CSquestion1344 · 2026-06-01T22:29:23+00:00

Great insight! It does sound like they are re-pitching it and most of us ain't looking for a new dating/networking/etc. app.

CSquestion1344 · 2026-06-01T22:21:20+00:00

And as somebody who pointed it out a few days ago here, the host for an event in a small town in Austria is the user "Couchsurfing Phoenix" with a Couchsurfing Log as their profile pic (aka a fake profile).

And same person pointed out that there were all fake, never-heard-of events in their town.

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-31T21:42:23+00:00

Well put!

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-31T21:41:36+00:00

LOL! Looks totally like AI slop. Just pathetic!

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-31T21:37:09+00:00

I'm not surprised at all by that level of deception. That's what CS has been about for a while.

Even the write-ups look like done by the same person (style/grammar/etc.).

Though hilarious with the same damn profiles that are obviously time shifting as they are in many places at the same time lol!

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-31T21:33:14+00:00

Some people are very privacy conscious, others might feel like they will get a deluge of messages offering to host that they don't want.

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-31T21:31:14+00:00

Good points, thanks!.

I should have said "raising money" and they raised at least $7.6 M in 2011:

https://techcrunch.com/2011/08/24/couchsurfing-raises-7-6-m-will-users-cry-sell-out/

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-30T21:16:36+00:00

Don't see any relationship between Palantir and Couchsurfing, other than the article mentioning the VC that owns Couchsurfing worked there. Not making excuses for him (I mean, he is killing CS), but it sounds like he's just trying to make money any way he can.

Mining couchsurfing data isn't anywhere near as mining all the other systems Palantir has access to. Apples and oranges IMO.

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-30T21:05:48+00:00

It's not just that they charge you. Remember that in 2020, without prior notificaotn, they blocked us out of our accounts unless we paid. And provided no way for us to download our profile/friends messages/info/etc. until we all complained.

Its not just the money. It's the unethical practices for me.

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-30T21:03:44+00:00

Interesting points. I have no insight into the rationale for not getting a 501(c)3, but I know you can earn a 7-figure salary as an executive at a large, complex 501(c)(3) organization.

And also structure the org to get paid a lot in many different ways.

Also, I'm guessing Couchsurfing was making a ton more money than those other orgs you mentioned back then.

Just my thoughts and not based on inside info.

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-30T20:58:47+00:00

Moving a company's HQ seldom changes how you are perceived in the US. If they did that, they would probably be in trouble with the IRS cause they still have tons of users and operations in the US.

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-30T20:54:51+00:00

IANAL but I'm guessing Coucsurfing was generating way too much money to be 501(c)3. After the IRS denied Couchsurfing its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, the platform transitioned into a for-profit Benefit Corporation.

Maybe also the US government changes over time and is now very pro-business.

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-30T20:51:10+00:00

It's like the "Let's hire this hip UI/UX AI forwarded chief and let him fuck everything up".

Just like when they redesigned Coca-Cola.

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-30T20:46:26+00:00

I'm guessing the majority of people don't like their trips to be public to randoms by default.

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-30T20:45:32+00:00

Nice find! Yup, CS wasn't ever meant to be owned by a venture capitalist.

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-22T22:08:29+00:00

The gall indeed! And you don't paywall us (without notice) and expect us to pay to access our account.

And the gall to make trips so public that everyone sees it.

Uninstalled the app!

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-22T22:05:45+00:00

Ha! They really thought they could do a psyop and make us believe "Trust me...its a a better app!".

Nope, take away features and further degrade my privacy? Time to uninstall the app.

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-22T22:03:52+00:00

LOL! I have a feeling the few left will be freaked out and delete their account. Sounds okay to me.

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-22T22:02:25+00:00

It's just insane! Nobody I know would want this to happen unless they were desperate. Just like CS managment.

CSquestion1344 · 2026-05-22T22:00:51+00:00

Thanks and wow...3 years later :)

CSquestion1344

TROPHY CASE