Airbnb Will Hide Guests’ First Names in Oregon Until Bookings Are Confirmed to Fight Discrimination

[Michelle53]

"Airbnb is taking steps to tackle discrimination from hosts on its platform with a new update for guests who are residents of Oregon. Unfortunately, it seems like people in other states, and around the world, will just have to keep on fighting to be treated fairly on the platform.

Beginning on Jan. 31, hosts will only see the initials of guests’ first names until they confirm a booking request, Airbnb announced in a December news announcement spotted by the Verge. After a host confirms the booking, the guest’s full name will appear. The change to how names are displaced will be in place for at least two years...."

https://gizmodo.com/airbnb-will-hide-guests-first-names-in-oregon-until-bo-1848294121

Is anyone a little troubled by calling a prospective guest "X.Y."  if they reach out with a booking request ?   Does it seem friendly to anyone ?   Goodness knows we get almost no information about prospective guests, in many cases.

[Laura2592]

@Michelle53 whhhhaaattt?

This is a step too far for me. So I am basically being asked to accept someone with no reviews, no name, no picture, no guarantee that they are even a human who is old enough to stay,  into my much loved home just for a measly pay out? I mean, I am with anyone on fighting discrimination, but its totally unfair to ask a property owner to rent their space to someone who won't even reveal their NAME. 

Luckily we don't get many guests from Oregon. 

[Michelle53]

@Laura2592  Since many folks don't keep their location up to date or accurate,  I guess the only way we'll know is if initials without names start appearing .

Seems like it's only a matter of time before other states start doing the same.   This makes prior reviews and upfront communication even more important  But I can't imagine addressing someone as "Dear X" .

[Mark116]

@Laura2592  Yikes. I ultimately made peace with their hiding of people's photos, deciding that it  protects to a degree hosts from claims of discrimination, with only a first name and no photo its virtually impossible for hosts to actively discriminate based on any protected class characteristics.

[Emilia42]

This really does not surprise me. And I don't see this as an Airbnb thing but an Oregon thing. No offense Oregonians. It will slowly trickle to other states in the coming years as we all fight to eliminate discrimination. 

I wonder what would happen if a host responded to a booking request with "Sorry, but I don't accept anyone with a first name that starts with L. Best of luck in your search!"

[Normen0]

Not sure if it will solve the problem.
I had a Matthew make a request but I didn’t like the communication and the timing was during Frosh week so I turned it down.  Immediately this young man accused me of being a) stupid B) racist because I turned down a “young black boy” and following that - threatened to beat me up if I didn’t return his money (which of course I didn’t have) . 
My son, who is very much very white, is named Matthew. No photo of the potential guest either.  
By the reaction, my choice based on my intuition was the right one and nothing to do with name or race.  

[Annie1372]

@Normen0 

did you report the conversation to AirBNB ??

[Normen0]

@Annie1372 Yes, I did. No response whatsoever from AIRBNB.  

[Quincy]

Hello @Normen0, thanks for posting this here. I have passed this on to the team immediately. 

[Normen0]

@Quincy Thank you.  I reported this guest right away and AIRBNB didn’t respond or do anything.  Is there a reason why you think anything would be done now? 

[Nikki412]

I had a very similar incident. I followed my gut instinct based on past negative reviews and was called racist. I was grateful for those reviews, and I hope that hosts give genuine reviews when property rules are broken or property is damaged by guests. That's what I depend on...much more than Airbnb support!

[Huma0]

I am not sure this makes a huge difference. We don't see the guest's photo or full name prior to booking anyway. Also, guests can use nicknames or even totally fake names on their profile and change the name whenever they want. Also, I have come across guests who have more than one account or multiple guests using the same account. 

I have a friend of a friend who has been an Airbnb user for years, booked numerous listings and has excellent reviews. She has used a pseudonym from day 1 as she feels uncomfortable using her own name on a public platform like Airbnb. It's never stopped her from using the site to book.

All of this make the username on a profile just about as useful as an initial anyway. I would make a decision based on the guest's communication over whatever is on their profile.

[Susan990]

@Michelle53  Obviously ABB is beta-testing this "idea" that initials only will somehow cure discrimination issues. Therefor they need to establish a "control group" and they chose Oregon guest users...probably because of its small number so easy to collate data. I predict this idiotic idea will crash and burn quickly when ABB notices the Decline rate skyrocket and ABB is loosing money! Keep us all posted on the outcome OK?

[Mark116]

@Susan990  I think it was part of the agreement they made with the Oregon residents who sued for discrimination, that is why it is only in Oregon right now.  But, I agree, if nothing terrible happens, like hosts getting murdered by strangers with only initials, then Airbnb may roll it out in other areas.

[Susan990]

@Mark116  Thank you Mark for the update. I did not know about this Oregon lawsuit. The way this is heading the only remaining safeguard for Hosts like me who use Instant  Book with         ( optional ) requirement to show  Reviews so that  Host can make a decision based upon those reviews.  Wondering if one day a Guest will sue for discrimination against  unreviewed users!