Effective: May 6, 2026. Last reviewed: May 14, 2026.
This policy applies to all members, all content, and all activity on the Couchsurfing platform and app. This policy applies regardless of whether the platform has child users. Couchsurfing is an 18+ platform. Age verification is required to create an account.
Couchsurfing Inc. has zero tolerance for child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) in any form. Our approach to child safety aligns with the best practices set out by the Tech Coalition for combating online child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Our Zero Tolerance Commitment
The safety of children is non-negotiable. Couchsurfing strictly prohibits any content, behavior, or communication that constitutes, facilitates, or promotes child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) or child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
For the purposes of this policy, a minor is defined as any person under the age of 18.
Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) refers to any conduct that sexually abuses, exploits, or endangers a minor, including but not limited to:
- Sexual content involving minors, including imagery, video, illustrations, or written content
- Child grooming: befriending or building a relationship with a minor to facilitate sexual contact or the exchange of sexual material
- Sexualization of a minor: content that depicts, encourages, or promotes the sexual abuse or exploitation of children
- Sextortion: threatening or blackmailing a child using real or alleged access to intimate images
- Solicitation: attempting to arrange sexual contact with a minor or recruiting minors for sexual purposes
- Trafficking: advertising, soliciting, or facilitating the commercial sexual exploitation of a child
Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) refers to any visual, written, or digital material that sexually exploits or depicts the abuse of a minor.
Violations of this policy result in immediate, permanent account termination. There are no exceptions and no second chances. We also remove any content associated with the violation.
Where the law requires, and where we become aware of CSAM on our platform, we report it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) or the relevant regional authority.
How We Enforce This Policy
Content Moderation
Couchsurfing uses a combination of automated tools and human review to detect and address CSAM and CSAE-related content across all user-generated content on the platform, including messages, posts, photos, and community content. Flagged and removed content is reviewed by our Trust and Safety team, who will remove any child safety content and take action in compliance with applicable child safety laws.
Member Reporting
Members can report CSAE-related content or behavior from anywhere on the platform. Reports go directly to our Trust and Safety team and are reviewed promptly.
You can report:
- A member: from their profile, tap or click the more options icon (three dots) and select Report
- A message or chat: from within a conversation, report an individual message or the full chat thread
- A post, event, or community: from the content itself, using the report option
For serious safety concerns, you can also reach our Trust and Safety team directly through Settings → Trust and Safety or safety@couchsurfing.com.
All reports are handled confidentially. The person you report will not be notified.
Trust and Safety Review
Every report submitted through the platform is reviewed by our Trust and Safety team. Accounts reported by multiple members are subject to automatic suspension pending review. Our team investigates each case and takes action in accordance with this policy and applicable law.
Compliance with Child Safety Laws
Couchsurfing complies with applicable child safety laws and regulations globally. This includes maintaining a process to report confirmed CSAM to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) or the relevant regional child protection authority.
We cooperate fully with law enforcement when contacted in connection with child safety matters.
Child Safety Point of Contact
To report CSAE content found on the Couchsurfing platform, or to notify us of a child safety concern, contact our designated child safety point of contact:
safety@couchsurfing.com
This contact is monitored by our Trust and Safety team and is positioned to respond to enforcement inquiries, review procedures, and take action where required.