Uber was originally marketed as ride-sharing, too. Just an app to find people going the same way. Of course, I’m fairly sure that their current iterations was the plan all along as anyone with enough business sense to start those companies must have predicted that there would be people who take on Uber/AirBnB as a primary source of income. But sharing your hours or planning a shared trip is much more palatable than “Landlords but Worse”.
Comment on How Airbnb accidentally screwed the US housing market and made $100 billion
ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 6 months ago
Remember back before Airbnb when this was just a free thing called couch surfing?
whoreticulture@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 months ago
ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 6 months ago
couchsurfing.com Still exists
But i can’t imagine as many people on there when they can just rent out for money
Potatos_are_not_friends@lemmy.world 6 months ago
Not really. Couch surfing was only for a certain type of person.
TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world 6 months ago
why free when you can make money?
Tryptaminev@lemm.ee 6 months ago
i mean couch surfing is guest and host being there and interacting with each other.
AirBnB is getting the flat for yourself for the time you rent it.
Couldbealeotard@lemmy.world 6 months ago
A big part of Airbnb used to be spending time with a host. It has since turned into just landlord via app.
Tripp1976@lemmy.world 6 months ago
That’s exactly how airBnB started though. Then they moved to renting out the whole place and now we are where we are.