Couchsurfing is built for adults. We believe every idea has value, alternative lifestyles are welcome, and members should feel free to express themselves. We're not here to police your choices or your conversations.
That said, a lot of what happens on Couchsurfing eventually leads to real-world meetups between people who've never met before. Safety matters. Our system moderation exists for one reason: to protect members from harassment, scams, and real-world harm.
How Does System Moderation Work?
We keep things focused on what actually puts people at risk. System moderation on Couchsurfing works on two levels: an automated system that catches things quickly, and a human team that handles the bigger picture. Together, they review content posted in Chats and Communities.
The types of content we moderate include:
- Harassment, threats, or intimidation
- Spam or scam attempts
- Sexually explicit solicitation
- Content that could put members at physical risk
We keep this list intentionally narrow. Couchsurfing is home to a diverse, global community, and we want you to feel comfortable being yourself here.
What Happens When Content Is Hidden?
Content can be hidden in a couple of different ways, and who can see it depends on how it was removed.
Hidden by system moderation
Our automated system reviews content and hides anything that may violate our community policies. When this happens:
- Your content is still visible to you
- It's visible to our admin team for review
- Other members and Community moderators won't be able to see it
Hidden by a Community moderator
Community moderators can remove content that doesn't follow their Community's rules. When a moderator hides something:
- Your content is still visible to you and the moderator
- Other members won't be able to see it
In both cases, hidden content isn't deleted. It's set aside for a closer look.
What If My Content Was Hidden by Mistake?
System moderation isn't perfect, and we know that. If you think your content was flagged incorrectly, reach out to our Trust and Safety team and we'll take a look.
What About Content Removed by a Community Moderator?
If you're not sure why a moderator removed something you posted, check the Community's rules first. Each Community sets its own guidelines, and moderators use those to decide what stays and what goes.
One Thing to Know: System moderation and Community moderator actions are separate. If your content was hidden by the automated system, a Community moderator can't restore it. Only the Trust and Safety team can review system moderation decisions.
Need more help? Get in touch. You can also reach us anytime through Settings → Contact Support.