CouchSurfing: Travelers' Networking Site

Couchsurfing (http://www.couchsurfing.org) is a social networking platform where travelers and the locals of the community that they visit socialize. Membership is free but you are welcome to make donations to CS to maintain its survival. The main function of this website is to provide travelers with potential hosts in foreign countries and traveling info or any tips. The members provide most of the information (Web2.0) on the web through forums and testimonials. Members can decide if they are interested in hosting or meet up, which allow them to socialize with people from all over the world. The survival of this site is based on the donation made by members when they verify their addresses.

Main Concern: Security
Members will have to verify their address by doing it online (optional but lack of credibility if you don't) and make a little donation, which is how the company profits. At the end of the process, a postcard will be received and you will have to verify your address. However, not everyone might be comfortable to provide his or her address online. Other than that, there are not many concerns except for the character and reliability of members, which is impossible to judge given the existence of anonymity in cyberspace.

What can CS do for you?

• Find ways to surf or host
• Inform you of social events that are nearby
• Allow you to find people whom has the same interests as you
• Provide you with opportunities to meet new people, broaden your social network beyond your home country
• No more socializing through a computer screen
  

It is not as sophisticated as what Facebook offers but still, basics are there, targeting a specific group of people. Those basic functions are good enough to facilitate any arrangements between the hosts and the travelers as well as information that any traveler would need to ensure their safety or enhance their traveling experience.


Overall, it is a rather useful website as it allows people from all around the world to meet and give a whole new experience to travelers as well as the locals. It helps to make people feel home as they travel and see the different countries from the perspective of a local rather than a tourist. It is definitely a whole new experience where you actually meet people and socialize face to face, which is not what many sites can offer.