CouchSurfing Has Changed Forever.

Couchsurfing has just become a paid platform. I thoroughly explain the anger of some members to whom doesn't understand it. The problem lies in the history of the platform, that's why if you registered in the last few years you probably ignore quite a few things.
Timestamps
00:00-02:59 What's happened
03:00-03:49 Why are members angry?
03:50-14:18 History of CouchSurfing
14:19-18:45 Really, what's the problem with paying for a service?
18:46-22:28 The two souls of Couchsurfing
22:29-27:48 My opinion about the matter
My Couchsurfing Playlist • COUCHSURFING INFORMATI...
Support my work on Patreon
/ whatashamemaryjane
𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙤
14th May rollout blog.couchsurfing.com/couchsu...
“We hear you” blog article blog.couchsurfing.com/we-hear...
2011 announcement of CS becoming a corporation blog.couchsurfing.com/a-new-e...
Casey Fenton 2011 letter blog.couchsurfing.com/a-lette...
In depth article about sharing economy and history of CS gigaom.com/2015/01/10/how-cou...
A more business perspective on the history www.sfgate.com/business/artic...
Will CS implode? 2013 article / will-couchsurfing-implode
Switch from group pages to place pages 2013 / couchsurfing_90_days_o...
A CS headquarters parody from 2013 • Downfall of Couchsurfi...
The slow death of CS: 2015 www.quora.com/Is-CouchSurfing... and 2017 www.quora.com/Is-CouchSurfing...
Casey Fenton interview • How Couchsurfing Becam...
Dan Hoffer interview 1 • CouchSurfing: What one...
Dan Hoffer interview 2 • Couchsurfing.com - Six...
2015 censorship on CS quirkytravelguy.com/couchsurf... and couchsurfingcontroversies.wor...
and protest event against it / 172136282940324
Facebook groups of 2020 protesters / 253525915764545
/ 3396960000331577
The Couchsurfing subreddit / couchsurfing_needs_you...
Interesting page about power and money in the CS corporation / who_is_patrick_dugan_t...
Reviews of people who work(ed) at Couchsurfing www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Cou...
Article about the 2020 event / the-death-of-couchsurfing
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[@WhatashameMaryJane]

SHARE the video with your CS friends via text or email, to avoid Couchsurfing censorship!

[@martincruz9922]

Unlocking of Address After Verification

[@nimrodcm9612]

Hi, thanks for the video. I have been a member of CS since 2008 and have used in Europe including Italy, USA, and Asia. So, I have not or couldn’t opened my profile since the beginning of the pandemic. Do you know how long they will keep the non-paying profiles like me, or is it gone now?

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

@@nimrodcm9612 I don’t know, but you should definitely write them until they give you your data.

[@carlosesqu689]

What I say is true

[@RobertSmith-xl2lc]

@@nimrodcm9612 Contact a lawyer.

[@Alan_Mac]

I live in London and host now and then when my kids are at University. The fee, of course, is small but I won't pay for the privilege of hosting. Plus a paid service changes the relationship between host and guest. If CS had asked for a donation to help them over the hump I'd have chipped in - and probably more than the fee they are now asking. I don't like how they are going about this.

[@TheCouchsurferviking]

I very much agree on you with these points. A one-time donation would be much better for now.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

I think the hardcore members of the community would have donated big sums if they only were asked. Instead, CS headquarters decided to cut those people off and get some easy money from new members that don't fully understand the purpose of the platform.

[@amelyntan6704]

"a paid service changes the relationship between host and guest" that's a massive point.

[@Wandering.Homebody]

Same here, in recent years I have only hosted, and feel that being asked to pay to offer my services as a host is just taking the piss, honestly, and I m not going to do it.

[@annfoo6166]

As a user since 2006 who bore witness to all of it, I am more angry about Couchsurfing's compliance in many horrific tales of rape and murder, their joke of a safety function and their constant minimising of the dangers associated with their platform than I am about paying for the service. To this end, I wanted to update my profile to warn users of these things, but I found I was locked out of the platform. I messaged tech support saying I wanted access to my photos are least, which are my intellectual property. They sent me some of my photos.. not all... and they also sent me the photos of some other random guy. I thought that was a fairly serious data breach and I told them so... I wouldn't be thrilled if my photos got sent to some other random. No response yet.

[@Sarazik]

Great research and very well presented! Thank you!

[@andreinchains]

Cool vídeo and great info! You took your time to make a great research, I joined CS in 2008 and there have been many changes since then, many of them not good at all, this fee is probably their biggest and last mistake, it doesn't feel like a community anymore. I feel so sad to see CS dying, I made a lot of great friends on the platform, I still keep in touch with many of them, CS changed me, for me it never was about finding a free place to crash, all the great conversations, the long night chats discusing philosophy (uh?) or whatever crossed your mind with someone who later you will call a friend. I had the plesure of meeting again a good bunch of CS friends in Germany a few years ago, we spent the afternoon watching the sunset with a BBQ, drinking beers and having a great time, that's how a community should be. Nothing lasts forever.

[@amelyntan6704]

I still keep in touch with my CS friends too (actually married one) but the rest, on Facebook. I think that would be the only thing that has a chance at dethroning BeWelcome or Trustroots now that CS is dead - A Facebook application with similar functionality. Let's face it - most of the world already has FB (Except China) Personally, I hope they just make BeWelcome a bit... more modern.

[@virusmanbob]

This is brilliant! Thank you! One thing you did not mention that definitely gives me pause is how they use personal information. In fact, this appears to be one of the major "costs" of couchsurfing.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Huge topic! I know too little about it to say anything useful

[@cholizgz9999]

I don’t care if Couchsurfing dies, but the CS community CAN’T DIE

[@ellenkane5972]

Yes, that is exactly correct, so why don't some of that OG CS community members start another platform like the OG CS platform!!!

[@levilexi]

Thanks! This was really informative and enjoyable to watch.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Thanks for the feedback, I'm glad you found it useful.

Great content and I am a new sub! I think people would appreciate (in the same way you did with your CS experiences etc) you sharing more about those other alternatives like bewelcome and trustroots, at the end we all have the same goal of connecting with people and places :)

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Hey Tony, welcome to the channel! I'm so glad you appreciate my content :) I was actually thinking of filming the entire process of registering on BW and TR and make videos about that, and in the next few months try them out while also vlogging the experiences.

[@davidl6332]

Saudade! greetings from Mexico... i was a member of CS since 2006 ... great experiences and lovely friends i've made! RIP CS

[@CaptainLeo]

Great video showing the history :). Thanks for producing it.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

I'm happy you appreciate it.

[@Bbarm97]

I used to be a host for years. I hosted over 80 people so far. There is no way in hell that I am paying money to host people for free at my apartment. This is just ridiculous and disrespectful. Ill be hosting people and couchsurfing will be making money off of my hospitality. Hell no. couchsurfing is gone

[@jameshitselberger5845]

There used to be an incentive for hosts....free memberships every six months.

[@waltergiangreco9558]

Couchsurfing changed my life! You are awesome, thank you for sharing.

[@barakzaken5588]

Great video, you are something special!

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Thanks Barak!

[@Mattbogus]

Mary Jane. As the Official Couchsurfing Ambassador for all of Canada... I love your vids. I actually notify first time CS'ers to your channel as a source of honest and realistic information with regards to the community. I hope you continue to be a member of couchsurfing going forward indefinitely and you are a phenomenonal CS torch in Italy. Stay safe and healthy. M

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Wow, thank you. I truly appreciate that. That's why I do all this work (and it's a lot of work, even if it doesn't really show in the final product) in the first place. So receiving this comment is very rewarding.

[@amelyntan6704]

Come to BeWelcome and Trustroots, matteismaximus :) All the cool kids are.

[@Qwerty8]

Hey, you wrote chapters! Great 😀 all in all a great contribution again!

[@Qwerty8]

Das ist das erste Mal, dass ich das überhaupt in einem YT Beitrag sehe ❤️❤️❤️

[@nilskrabbe7887]

I used Couchsurfing only to host travelers. I met a lot of great people and hat realy good times, but I never stayed at another place. It might not be a big fee, but I decided I won't pay any amount of money to host other people. It's a shame since the idea of Couchsurfing is really great and there are hardly good alternatives. Real pitty... I would have loved to host people again after the Covid situation, but now this won't happen. Thanks for the video it gave me some new information!

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

I've been both a host and a surfer, but I've travelled a lot during the past couple of years and therefore I feel like telling you that I totally understand your choice and I want to thank you for hosting all those travellers who have been your guests. I'm glad you had a good time with them.

[@xxxnamkhaxxx]

Well done and researched. After being a member of CS since 2007... and learning about this new dick move I am moving on to trustroots and bewelcome... come to think of it, I am already on bewelcome! Goodbye, CS!

[@amelyntan6704]

I actually started my BeWelcome profile at the same time as my CS one. Now that CS is fucked, I went back to my BeWelcome profile and had difficulties uploading a profile picture. Looking around, I see I'm probably not the only one. Message "shevek" and tell them - he/she fixed it for me.

[@havidalafora]

Me too. I'm now on Trust Roots, Be Welcome and Warm Showers ;]

[@Wandering.Homebody]

@@havidalafora Well, warmshowers seems to have shut down?

[@dangriff12]

I didn't realise and because I had previously paid full membership it seems to have locked me out yesterday. Wish I had known to get all my positive reviews.

[@Wandering.Homebody]

@@dangriff12 were you still using it these last few months? If so, how was it? Could it still be worth it?

[@jeahavvalentin980]

Great video 👌

[@rosaannarilli4905]

I think that I will stick to Hostels as nothing in life is free and they are still a lot cheaper than Hotels. I meet a lot of people from all over the world and I can leave early in the morning and return late at night without feeling bad that I did not spend time with my sponsor. I love your channel as you are full of knowledge and are a solo traveler and an Italian woman who tries to travel on a budget like me, thank you!

[@amelyntan6704]

Thankyou! Basically it's BeWelcome or Trustroots. Be great to see a video on which one you're choosing and why. Also be interesting to hear about which one is getting closest to taking over.

[@amelyntan6704]

seen this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIScf4hultONgtk&app=desktop

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

I will get into those very soon and show you everything!

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

@@amelyntan6704 yep

[@RobertSmith-xl2lc]

Why did BeWelcome not up it's game over 10 years ago when people were already talking about the Corporate takeover of CS?

[@MorselOfBread]

imho, If the original owners were not after money, they would not have sold the site. With very small donations from the members they could've kept it going. If back taxes amounted to millions of dollars, that means they were making even much more than that. At any rate, thanks for your video. It seems like you stood up for the whole 30 minutes.

[@reneeltc]

Thanks for this amazing informative video. CS has brought so many wonderful souls into my life. Completed agree with you on the last part. I will also keep surfing couches around the world and hosting travelers. Let's see what the future holds.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Renee 💜

[@matdallas100]

Thank you I’ve been a member of Couchsurfing since 2008 and have hosted over 100 people . I gave then a donation but I don’t know if i will Continue to be a member if I don’t it was a good time and time to move on but hope I do make fun of your friends they steal my friends today never change my travels

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

I know. I understand. It's such a pity.

[@RobertSmith-xl2lc]

BeWelcome . . . . .

[@travelwithbari]

You are a Very good speaker 👌👌

[@matreyia]

I am a member but I haven't visited in a decade...now it appears I will never visit again. It was great when I used it, then it got popular and became a weapon for creepy people hunting. Oh well, nothing lasts forever.

[@robertsteinberger5667]

I still dont know if it still is alive or not, if I pay for a subscription; are there still many people offering a place?

[@karimsm3132]

You love couchsurfing so much , they should hire you :)

[@amelyntan6704]

Doesn't sound like they hire people that love it. Sounds like they only hire pricks.

[@robertgorsline9456]

@@amelyntan6704 CSers have applied but they would never hire them...

[@Hyrtsi]

I got into CS in 2019 as a host for total 4 guest and made friends for lifetime :)

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Love to hear that!

[@TheCouchsurferviking]

Wow Mary, you put a lot of work into this video, well done. I`ve been a CS member for 11 years and it has been awesome, it would be really sad to see it end here. It`s of course really sad that it has come to this, and where does it end? Do we just keep on paying more and more for the same service. We really lack transparency in this case. Since they changed to a for-profit business it has changed for the worse. Last few years the development of the website has been near to zero. If they now manage to survive and they implement many of the features that has been requested in the last few years, I would give them a chance and support them. Btw, I have already supported them, the sum they are asking for a year is the same price as for a beer at a bar here in Norway.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

I think we have a similar opinion Eivind. I'm certainly very confused about what position to take. They need to improve the service if they want my money.

[@onurolce]

@@WhatashameMaryJane It's a very fascist behavior that CS closes itself suddenly and only allows money-payers to enter the website. Thank you so much for doing such detailed research and shooting videos, Mary!

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

onurolce I tried to be balanced and diplomatic in the video, but I totally agree with you Onur

[@KevinMeyerSSK]

I like the way you are comming closer to the camera if you want to to fly your point

[@juliam5628]

I used Couchsurfing in Milano and the guy was so creepy 😩😂 after that I used it in Verona and that time was a lot better 🤟🏼 ! Love your videos Mary Jane 💕

[@onurolce]

I'm sorry for your bad experience. But I've a question : is that fault of CS ?

[@juliam5628]

@@onurolce No, it´s not. It´s mine for not talking the time to choose better and the host for being creepy.CS was not supposed to be a hook up app

[@onurolce]

@@juliam5628 I understand. So how do you find hosts in different cities or countries anymore ?

[@juliam5628]

onurolce i don’t 😂 last thing I used was Workaway for extended periods of time

[@RobertSmith-xl2lc]

LOL. That is the usual these days. CS is basically Tinder for guys that want to bang young attractive travellers.

[@JasonRuppVlog]

I wonder if it is worth paying for couchsurfing now...

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

I guess it depends on you. To me it definitely is. If it's moral to do it, I still don't know.

[@knightofjustice5475]

Membership dropped of significantly, so if you're looking for people it's kind of a joke now.

[@atroksia7794]

I'm sad to see it turn out this way. I had spent a great time on CS activities in general and my experience with both hosting and surfing was amazing. However, it has hanged over the time I've joined. I can understand the disappointment with the unification of the website (both profile and location). It's the kind of change Jaron Lanier criticises in web 2.0 - completely drains out every ounce of individuality in the name of standardisation and homogenization. The complete lockdown of the profile seems to be quite extreme. COVID hit me quite badly and bacause of that planning on travelling and meeting with travellers was not high on my priority list. Yet now I am truly considering my options even after everything settles financially. How different the new model would be from Airbnb's with a fee shifted from a single payment to subscription-based one (even a small price at first). It's again another popular move, highly scalable and easy in making a profit prognosis.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Wow you mentioned Jaron Lanier and I’m really impressed. In case you didn’t know yet, there are alternatives to Couchsurfing, and many members are moving or have already moved there. I’m going to do the same very soon and make videos about how to set up the profile there, what are the features of the different platforms and how they compare.

[@Percyfaith7]

I paid years ago but could not ever understand how to use. I need to find places safe for my sensitives to EMF, dirty electricity and environmental toxins. I need options now for a trip and went to see how to find someone to stay with.... Do not understand much at all.

[@dtuk22]

With this virus all the furniture stores have been closed... Couldn't couch surf anywhere.😕

[@georgekelly9797]

Great explanation. Almost nothing is for nothing. $16 sounds reasonable. If a person doesn’t like the cost move on. Remember, sometimes you get what you pay for. Let’s have some more blogs, we miss your blogs. Be safe. .

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

George, that's exactly the opposite of what I keep saying in the video.

[@s-e-a]

Whats your CS profile ? You still have it ?

[@emmabarnes2111]

I’m very curious Mary Jane, do you live in NYC full time now permanently or does your visa make you go back to Italy soon?

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Hi Emma, I live in NY permanently now :) And I look forward for things to open up again to travel the US!

[@emmabarnes2111]

What a shame Mary Jane Thank you for sharing that. I have one other question. I know a guy who lives in Ireland. He wants to come to the USA full time permanent. What advice can you offer, how did you get your permanent card? Sorry for all the questions, I just want to help him out. Maybe you can make a video about it. Thank you.

[@daniloleggio9839]

I'm a fresh member, I started couchsurfing 1 year ago. While I think that the fee is small, they should at least make it free for people who host. I met a lot of people who use it only for hosting once in a while or for local meet ups. Are those people gonna pay the fee? Some of them probably not, and this is really sad and might kill the spirit of CS. I'm really confused about what to do but I will keep an eye on the other platforms for sure

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Many of the hosts that I've stayed at were almost exclusively hosting, and they mostly told me that they have no intention to pay. The problem is that many members are both surfers and hosts (including myself) so how should they deal with them?

[@daniloleggio9839]

They could make it that you can accept couch requests and answer them for free, and make people pay for sending messages to hosts or people in general. It would be more reasonable, but since they make this huge update without being too worried about the community's response, I don't think they are gonna change it :/ I hope this video and the comments can reach someone from the management and they can change their mind

[@amelyntan6704]

@@daniloleggio9839 This move doesn't just kill "the spirit", it kills the platform.

[@ellenkane5972]

Seems to me that folks who originally gave their volunteer time and efforts to build the original website/platform, could leave this current for-profit website and begin another community-members website with a different name. Even though I am only now really finding and understanding the Couchsurfing scene, when I came to understand the history, I really cannot understand why all those "old-timers" to the platform etc didn't all leave en masse to form a different, more heart-centered platform based on the OG platform. I would recommend that happen, and would be happy to join such a platform/website when/if it is created.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

They did, the “new” platform is called BeWelcome, but it’s not easy to organize a mass action especially if these people come from all over the world. Plus Couchsurfing already had a name at the time and it takes a lot of effort for something to grow like that. Who would have had the energy to do the job (for free) all over again?

[@HelloPrasanthKJ]

Hi, are u maintaining your CS account?

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Yes I am

[@sirClogg]

I have no problem paying for services. I even have registered total commander and winRar because they are so useful. But here it's me providing the service. I host people in my 2 apartments since 2011, take them around, shelter them, feed them, guide them, make sure they have the best possible experience. I've even made a small website with tips and trips for my country. I've organized and hosted numerous events. And at the top of that, I should pay some 3rd party for doing so? No thank you. At least let me log into my profiles so I could back up and delete the photos and all! :( The fact that they hadn't just disabled the option to contact someone until you pay, but blocked our access to the account altogether just shows that they are aware that our data collected over a decade are precious to us and they hold it as a hostage. "believe in something greater than money" my ass. This is nothing short of blackmail.

[@gcm4312]

I remember that Couchsurfing almost ended once before, around 2006, when they "lost" all their site... webpages, databases, etc... (back when websites were hosted in computers in people's homes). IIRC they had to literally start back from zero since they had almost no backups... since they were already a relatively famous website at that point it became a known "warning" story in the tech space.

[@TheCouchsurferviking]

wow, didn`t know that, thanks for the info

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Yep based on my researches Casey Fenton emailed all the members saying that the website was over, that they would have closed everything. It's just because of the members who pushed to reopen it and restart everything from scratch that CS is still here today.

[@gcm4312]

@@WhatashameMaryJane great research work, by the way!

[@annfoo6166]

I was travelling in that time. Some emergency bulletin boards went up and I was able to connect with my host that way. For the next 3 days she was hyper stressed and not able to sleep and was on endless skype calls with casey fenton. It was my first insight into the cultish and obsessive inner-circle of couchsurfing. Personally, it was not a big deal to me. To rely solely on CS is foolhardy, so when the site crashed I was fine to simply check into a hostal, but all these people were acting like it was the end of the world. At that point I thought... there's something a little wrong with people who plan their entire existance around this platform. One of the reason's I've never been super keen about Ambassadors. Nice people but can be a little religiously obsessed.

[@amelyntan6704]

Imagine the warning this demise will warrant. Doubt the members will force them to reopen this time.

[@Food4thought1234]

They could have done this better in so many ways. I just started using the service before the pandemic. I was all about what it represented that I became a verified member just to support it. Now after a year, I just logged in, and was not only blocked, but didn’t even get my free “year” for the verified memembership I paid for. Since, it’s been a year, and still no changes. I’m official done with CS. If they would have simply asked for donations, I think they would have gotten not only more money, but a better response.

[@RobertSmith-xl2lc]

You got conned Richard. Did you not read the reviews? Lots of people were warning about the credit card no refund policy etc.

[@alionur3]

Nice video.

[@thecrazypotts]

if c.s. is charging, i probably will not log back in :( and i loved it.

[@nickalika]

unless you want to delete your profile, you will have to pay... You know that's another thing to consider... the remaining active users on CS must have such a hard time, half of their users are gone, and can not access their settings to say they are no longer hosting, so using CS now must be a nightmare sifting through no-longer-active users.

[@faruk1472]

CS makes my trips memorable. Also hosying people takes me away from boredom of living in same city most of the time. So paying for couple of months during my trips makes sense

[@amelyntan6704]

It'll make less sense as all of the hosts migrate to BeWelcome or Trustroots. I don't even know how they expect to rope in new travelers into a paid subscription model... they probably don't. This is just squeezing the last drops of juice out of the existing community.

[@taujago]

I work in IT industry. I know how much effort to running application like CS. The first question when I joined CS, how did they fund the system since it's for free. I decide to pay for verified membership because I appreciate CS team's effort. also, the benefit that i got from this community is so worth it. so, I never hesitate to pay verified membership. FYI, to keep this apps running, there are lot of resources required. they have to pay for server bill. which is it's not cheap since it serves million members around the world. beside that, there are some support personnel to keep this community fun and enjoyable. so, to keep CS running and free from advertisement, I 100% agree if the membership is paid. but don't make it to high :p

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Hi, I appreciate your comment. I would love to know what are the expenses they have, for what and how much...

[@taujago]

@@WhatashameMaryJane it's a must to pay server bill. To store tons of traveling pictures with million users, it can costs more than 2000 USD per month. It's not include server engineer fee, mobile developer to keep application maintained and so on.

[@worldbikeboatparty5860]

Yes bad but not unexpected given no international flights. I'm ready for travel to get back to normal.

[@abhisekkheria1994]

Is there any substitute to couchsurfing website ??

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

BeWelcome and TrustRoots

[@matiasarizu9438]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@YoutubeTravelerSoloVagabond]

hopefully it will come back soon, if not on this platform, then another

[@davidellis5141]

At the end of the day , it's all about money.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

That's a destructing mentality that I really dislike David.

[@chitsb]

@@WhatashameMaryJane it’s true though. Only privileged people with the money to travel or with the time to engage in these “experiences” join. In my country, the types who joined were rich brats who could travel a lot. Who also wanted to hookup with foreigners. When people from other countries visited, “Cultural exchange” was some total BS when it was just parties and more parties. You yourself read a letter about birthday, movie and beach parties - how is that a cultural experience from any angle? Any idiot can watch a movie of another country sitting at home, or go to the beach to celebrate a birthday. None of these losers even picked up a history book to learn about the country they were visiting. Or to understand the economical and political struggles. Just stupid kids who partied a lot. I quit CS in 3 months because what I saw disgusted me.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

@@chitsb I don't know what country you're from but you seem to have known only the rotten apples that are on the platforms. Also, members who come from poorer countries love to participate exactly because they cannot afford to travel and hosting a traveller in their homes lets them get in direct contact with other cultures. You're telling me that a movie cannot make understand economical and political struggles? Excuse me but it sounds like the only movies you watch are Hollywood bullshit or something. Parties are great moments to socialize with foreigner people. History books are not the only mean to get to know a culture. On the contrary, you can pick up a history book in the comfort of your own home. Why would you even do that while travelling? I suggest you to watch the movie "Couch Connections" in order to understand better how Couchsurfing works and how it enriches people culturally. The only problem is that it's made by an Austrian guy who put it to rent for 5 euros, which might be way too much for you. If that's the case I suggest you to write him an email and explain him your situation. I'm sure he'll let you watch it for free or for a price that is proportionate to your country's economy. www.couch-connections.com/en/contact/

[@jellemaarten2145]

My heart is broken a bit...

[@GospodinJean]

I would be okay to pay a one time only fee. but not monthly.

[@robertgorsline9456]

Did you have your profile registered in Italy when you got hit by the paywall or the US?

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Italy

[@robertgorsline9456]

@@WhatashameMaryJane That makes sense I was wondering why they would charge you in Euros if your in NYC....

[@vivoperta]

It starts at $2.00 but maybe the price will raise in the future. How can you be sure

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Yep exactly

[@robertgorsline9456]

Were you still planning to do a video about BeWelcome and Trustroots? Have you heard about Couchers at all?

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

You know, I started using BeWelcome and record a video but I was quite disappointed by the lack of activity on the platform, so I stopped.

[@lauravaldez3282]

What is your CouchSurfing account?

[@jameshitselberger5845]

I am just beginning your video, but whatever you say probably has a lot of credibiility. I can say that I noticed all my references from more than two years ago erased...I am glad I try to have real world information about hosts and guests written down elsewhere.

[@darkchevalier]

I was a CS member as well and I'm always thankful to those people who helped me during my travels, as well I also enjoyed the time spent in meetings in several part of Europe. Anyway I'm against as well this paywall, as well I left the site and not going to move back there, but I don't also completely disagree. Lately CS was filled with scammers, people seeking only easy sex and during years I noticed that and it felt quite sad. My last meeting was in Munich, as I live now in Germany and it was so disturbing as experience that at some point I left that with one of the guests, shared a banter, visited the town at night and then wished her a safe travel back to her homecountry. On the contrary 2 of those guys there had absolutely no interest in speaking with me, as well the girl who organised that was on the same route. That's what CS was all about lately. Some friends of mine also stated the same and faced similar issues. Honestly I'm happy they ruined themselves with their own hands. There're other alternatives, but I think during latest years the "spirit" of travelling and its "social" organisation has switched to other goals, like again easy sex, platforms(ig or similars) or fake reviews.

[@itsthegr8matt]

Well I am quite new to CS so I guess I don't mind paying a little amount of money but I get the point. CS tried to embrace the idea to travell almost for free. Which is great. Then this pandemic hits the world and noone can travell anymore (or not as much as you'd like to)...and they thought of making money. But I am sure that after this pandemic is over CS will go to normal. No promises though.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Unfortunately they've been pretty clear about this new payment system not to go away when the situation will get back to normal.

[@nickalika]

18:10 you are correct, it WAS*

[@DesveMx]

I was member from 2008, hosted around 30 members, never surfed but I organized weekly events for years in the platform, I met hundreds of people on those events, but i have deleted my account from the site, why would i have to pay?, why would for giving my home for free? Or giving my effort for free to organize those events? I am sure CS is just dead. I hosted an italian girl by the way.

[@jameshitselberger5845]

There are so many bogus and dummy profiles made while membership was free...paid memberships would have avoided this problem. It would be so helpful if bogus memberships were eliminated. In Ontonagon, Michigan, for example, there are 30 members but only three or four of them are not bogus.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

I know, you’re right.

[@iannicholson7205]

Question: Was CS an original concept and is it still worth it? First let's clarify the facts regarding the origins of Couchsurfing. So many people seem unaware that it was NOT the first international hospitality exchange platform. Couchsurfing did not arise 'sui generis' with some guy's light-bulb moment. It is a carbon copy of Hospitality Club its less glossy European predecessor now sadly defunct .It was squeezed out by CS. In turn HC was modelled on SERVAS set up to improve international relations among civil servants in the aftermath of WWII. That was a pen and ink operation! I understand folks' reservations about its transition to corporate status. I ditched it for 10 years as a result. However I am back with it now. Why? In travelling in over 100 countries, many of them through CS and HC, I can honestly say that my best most authentic experiences have been through these organisations. I call it three-dimensional travel! Is Couchsurfing perfect? It ain't! Are there alternatives? Yes, BeWelcome to name but one. I intend to continue travelling this way until the Grim Reaper calls.....Happy trails all! 😀😀😀

[@carlosesqu689]

Come on people just support the platform, it's not a lot of money. any way am located in NY, I have heard complaints of people places of bars in NYC people don't tip to the bartenders so please tip don't be cheap and Couchsurfing is not a Hotel

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

You seem to not even have watched the video

[@GospodinJean]

It should have stayed a non profit. non private. publicly run platform! Since it became private this was bound to happen!

[@GospodinJean]

I lived in germany. now in brazil. and paying a monthly fee is kind of too much for me. ohman. but everythin is bound to end someday I'm sad. i was in courch surfing since 2009

[@RobertSmith-xl2lc]

The warming signs were there over 10 years ago . . then it was a slow decline until finally those pricks in silicon valley dropped the Ransomware bomb and disgracefully tried to blame it on covid. What complete slimeballs.

[@nickalika]

10:00 - $23 million dollars to pay taxes? geez how much did they make if that was tax money?!

[@Andrei-hl2fx]

i dont know what you are talking about.. i'm on couchsurfing and nothing changed for me.. same interface, same profile.. no request for money or memberships..

[@sxere91]

Same for me. That's strange

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

What country are you from?

[@Andrei-hl2fx]

@@WhatashameMaryJane Romania

[@sxere91]

@@WhatashameMaryJane UK

[@sxere91]

Eventually I received the email too 😢

[@mimmiblu6138]

To me Couchsurfing was not a business, but a non-profit organisation so I will not pay for it. I just did not pay the fee and never logged in again. End of story for me, I've just switched to a non-profit organisation.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Which one did you choose?

[@mimmiblu6138]

@@WhatashameMaryJane BeWelcome I used to be a host in Italy, but now I am not sure I 'll ever host again We'll see, never say never

[@riverghost78]

time to start our own

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

They've done it already in 2011, it's called BeWelcome

[@amelyntan6704]

Enough of you "Couchpoint" and "Staylance" parasites too. Feeding off the demise of CS. It's BeWelcome or Trustroots. The end.

[@nancyramirez3081]

someone create a new platform for us!

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

There are already two other free platforms: BeWelcome and TrustRoots.

[@franhan1327]

A great alternative is also app.couchers.org

[@bluelionman]

I feel robbed by CS I paid that Verification status last year and it wern't cheap like £50 I am sure - but was supposed to be one off for lifetime and allow me to send and receive unlimited messages. Now I never got anyone to host me travelling around my own country but thought it was an investment and be there forever so if I ever go away again can try my luck but not now, not with out paying again after a period of time so I feel like I just wasted £50 into some for profit venture capitalists scheme that I think will die a death before I need to use the website again.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Well, you had the worst timing. I'm sorry to hear. It sucks. Next week I'm going to release the video about registering to BeWelcome. It's the same concept, but completely free this time.

[@RobertSmith-xl2lc]

Guys. DON'T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET. You should make an email list (or similar) of people you may want to stay in contact with. . . .Otherwise you are always likely to be held to ransom (as Corporate C$ has done) - Pay or you will not be able to contact your fweind$. Awww fweind$!

[@sirClogg]

Anybody here who's well acquainted with GDPR? I believe this behavior is a direct violation of it. If nothing else, they should let us transfer and delete our personal data stored in our accounts if I'm not mistaken. If anyone could put together some kind of official letter template requesting this, that would be great.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

I'm also surprised about that. You should try take a look at the Facebook groups that I listed in the description of the video, people were very active there.

[@sirClogg]

@@WhatashameMaryJane at this point I think the loss of data is the only thing that's stopping old-time users from leaving for other platforms. But if this post www.reddit.com/r/gdpr/comments/gyy0v3/gdpr_compliance_on_couchsurfing/ is right and they are obliged to export us the profile data, then some other site might make it possible for users to migrate there and CS will be left with just the sort of people who view it only as free accommodation and don't really contribute -> will feel ok about paying the ransom. And you're right about the technical side of CS being lumpy. Especially the search algorithms were driving me mad. Without any change to my profile or online habits, I'd either get 20 requests everyday whole summer or non at all for the entire year. I've notified them about it several times with no reply.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

@@sirClogg So sad. I honestly know less than zero about legal issues, I hope among the active people there is someone who does and will organize an action against them.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Unfortunately I've heard many - too many - people wanting to stay also for other reasons.

[@sirClogg]

@@WhatashameMaryJane that's unfortunate. Still tho.. If someone made a legal document template making it possible to migrate data somewhere else.. I think those who are more hosts than surfers would take it. Because without hosts there wouldn't be couchsurfing and it really makes no sense to pay from a host perspective.

[@trianglestomache6353]

Couch surfing wont work if the guests are people who are inconsiderate and selfish,and contribute nothing. Which host would be so stupid as to want to spend their own hard earned money so that guests can stay for free,and to provide for the guests free lodging +free food+free cleaning service+free cooking +free tourist guide +free transport +inconveniences to hosts +loss of privacy for hosts +risk of host having all his/her money and valuables get stolen +risk of host getting falsely accused of sexual attacks+host being paid ZERO after doing so much for the guests ???? Couch surfing also wont work if the hosts are sexual predators waiting for preys to arrive. For guests, the risk to them is having all their money +valuables get stolen by a bad host or getting raped by host .

[@gevara454]

Mary why don't we make a new kind of couch surfing" it will be amazing if people would come together and show these big corporation that is not all about money

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

There is such a thing already! BeWelcome or TrustRoots

[@gevara454]

@@WhatashameMaryJane yes thank you for the information I noticed it at the end of the video

[@edgarbodiao4589]

Never pay, let them die,create new platforms.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

They're not gonna die

[@jwaxmcgeeg9706]

I wrote them to delete my account. They won't let me until I pay. I also wanted a copy of my data, for which they want to charge me. Let cs die, I am out.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Would you like to send me the conversation you've had with them via email? That's some pretty awful scam from them if it's true. [e-mail]

[@jwaxmcgeeg9706]

@@WhatashameMaryJane I would appreciate it

[@josemartinsaldanahernandez8333]

Im agree with the payment just because are to many accounts that are dead with no use. And a lot of people who just want to live in your place and eat the stuff of your fridge for free and dont bring you any money reward. And of course a lot of horny boys that use as a facebook account to contact womans , and its ok but not that all deserve it. I hope with this make a better community with more humans values , not just homeless people that travel by hitchhiking .. I mean real travelers its ok ,not fewer travelers that dont want to spend their money and taking advantage of you!

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Jose, do you really think that the solution to all these problems that Couchsurfing has is to make it a paid platform?

[@josemartinsaldanahernandez8333]

@@WhatashameMaryJane yes i do, i just want a more safest couchsurfing with people with a international view of what it is tourism and explorers , i think couchsurfing starts to lost his magic in the lasta 3 years because regular people satured thinkin that is another kind a facebook stuff. And is not , is just for people who understand what is a traveler not a usseles buddy that just wanna live into your home for free. I mean couchsurfing need a copy a lil of the style of workaway and dont accept lazzy people that just wanna have fun using the host. Im never be an a guets always host. A hugh for you maryjane 4:20 :) Welcome to bacalar. Payment and id im agree !

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

JOSE MARTIN SALDAÑA HERNANDEZ Jose, I agree with everything you said (that’s why I made that video titled “Is Couchsurfing safe?”), I’m just not sure that the payment is a good solution to all these big problems that the platform has. Greetings to you to Bacalar Mexico! 😊👋

[@josemartinsaldanahernandez8333]

@@WhatashameMaryJane thnks have a good night and youre welcome to mexico ! Thanks for share this!

[@hgo95]

I'm chilean and idk why I have to pay... For chile I think it's dead now... Shame...

[@mauriciojcYT]

Do someone knows how CS is now that covid has almost ended? I feel that the platform is kinda dead and has not evolved....

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

I haven’t used it much but I can certainly confirm that it’s still well alive. I haven’t had any problems finding hosts for a couple different trips and met several other couchsurfers on the way. Go for it!

[@noesense769]

Watched without sound couch surfing is dead, it was never alive it was made up. Reasons to be cheerful.

[@septemberquest6393]

What the hell is couch surfing?

[@Sam-tg4ii]

I feel like they took my years of effort on CS (dozens of positive references) hostage until I pay them a ransom (fee).. I would have happily paid 10 times the fee if they had asked for voluntary donations instead.

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

It's truly shameful.

[@noesense769]

Apart from talking what has this achieved.

[@worldbikeboatparty5860]

Some Asian countries don't need to pay

[@jameshitselberger5845]

which ones?

[@frawldog]

Cs is not Couchsurfing but casual sex

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Who uses Couchsurfing for casual sex is the rotten apple of the bunch. They simply ruin the platform for everyone else. With so many dating apps around, why would you misuse Couchsurfing?

[@thehimalayanyeti733]

If you love traveling and you want to see a totally diff world and culture. Please visit Bhutan. The last Shangrila on earth. 👍it’s beautiful. Everything diff from US. 😁

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

Isn't it forbid to visit for foreigners?

[@thehimalayanyeti733]

What a shame Mary Jane - it’s not forbidden. It’s just that the govt. is trying to preserve the old age culture and environment. There is a limit to total number of tourist visiting Bhutan in a year. You will see a diff world and people there. Please do visit if you like exploring world and learning new culture 🙂cheers

[@Amanbeautytips]

Come in India all beautiful mamber of cochsafring ...stay and food free and weed lover also well come..

[@miramaren3093]

Update Feb 2024, 56 euro to suscribe from algeria

[@sergiomuller9163]

You say it's a 'reasonable' fee. If WhatsApp, FB, KZbin or even better Wikipedia asks you for money to use it: would you also say, it's reasonable? How can 3$/month be 'little' for a person living in Colombia f.e. and this is no fee for even hosting or surfing, but just to be a member? Sorry to say, but with people like you the free internet will die.

[@user-nt3dn4lk9y]

now Wikipedia started

[@user-uu1mj4in3e]

If you need to come zanzibar island follow me i was born here zanzibar island

[@perseoeridano4182]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@miramaren3093]

Update Feb 2024, 56 euro to suscribe from algeria