We want Couchsurfing to stay a place people actually want to be. That means content that goes against our Community Guidelines or platform policies gets removed. Here's a breakdown of what tends to get flagged and why.
Posts
A post can be removed for two reasons:
- It violates Couchsurfing's Community Guidelines or platform policies
- It breaks the specific rules of the Community it was posted in. Community moderators set their own standards, so what's fine in one Community might not fly in another.
If a post disappeared and you're not sure why, check the rules for that Community first.
Events
Events get removed when they don't meet our Event Guidelines. These are the most common reasons.
Commercial or promotional content
Events are for connecting, not converting. If money is changing hands in a way that benefits the organizer, it's not a fit. The following aren't allowed:
- Bar, club, or party promotions where the organizer benefits financially, including cover charges, minimum consumptions, or donations
- Business promotions directing members to websites, shops, classes, or blogs
- Tours that charge a fee or ask for a donation
- Lessons, classes, or meetings that cost money to attend
The following are totally fine:
- Splitting gas or food costs, as long as it's stated clearly in the event description in advance and the final bill is publicly visible
- Letting members know about an official venue fee, like a concert ticket or museum entry, where payment goes directly to the venue
- Organizing meetups in bars or public spaces where buying food or drinks isn't required
Cross-promotional events
Events need to be created specifically for the Couchsurfing community. Copying an event over from Facebook, Meetup, or another platform isn't allowed.
External chat links
To keep everyone safe, all communication stays on Couchsurfing. That means no WhatsApp group links, no requests for phone numbers, and no redirecting members to outside messaging services.
Looking for a host or surfer
Events aren't the right place for accommodation searches. If you're looking for a place to stay, create a Trip instead.
Recycled events
Changing the date on an existing event to reuse it isn't allowed. It misrepresents how many people actually attended and leaves outdated information in the comments. For events that happen on a regular basis, use the recurring event feature. For everything else, create a fresh event for each date.
Location spam
Events need to be hosted in the same city as the organizer. Copying and pasting an event across multiple cities is considered spam and violates our Terms of Use. If you want to reach members in other cities, consider reaching out to them about co-hosting.
A Couple Things to Know: Content removal decisions are made at the discretion of the Couchsurfing Support and Safety team and are not usually reversed.
When reporting an event for a commercial violation, include as much supporting evidence as you can. Third-party reports for commercial violations can't be accepted. The report needs to come from the member who experienced the violation directly.
Need more help? Get in touch. You can also reach us anytime through Settings → Contact Support.