Guest profile pictures removed

John232
Level 10
Bangor, United Kingdom

Guest profile pictures removed

I have been an Airbnb host for many years, but am very concerned to find just now that profile pictures of potential guests are now not being displayed until a booking is confirmed. For me and I am sure many other hosts who welcome guests into our homes it is vitally important to be able to see what a guest is like and make a judgement about their suitability for accommodation within ones home where there may also be children. I am VERY concerned about this decision that seems to encourage 'incognito' travelling, and I cannot continue to offer accommodation unless hosts are able to see a good clear and recognisable profile picture of potential guests BEFORE we accept a new booking.

 

Withdrawing profile pictures makes selecting our guests a lottery, and takes away from us the ability to exercise choice. This is not what I regard as responsible hosting. I have always valued the vetting process provided by Airbnb but have many times expressed my concern that so many guests seem to seek accommodation with avatar profile images. In my opinion this is an insult to the hospitality offered by hosts. This new decision to hide all profile pictures of guests until after acceptance is not acceptable, because it encourages this incognito invasion of a hosts private home.

250 Replies 250

Hi John, since I read airbnb's motivation of wanting to prevent discrimination based on guest's photos, I could understand, but still do not like not seeing peoples faces when they make a booking request. It sucks! I was  at an airbnb meeting yesterday and brought it up. I was advised to write, and recommend to all hosts, to state our frunstation in the feedback section. I hope, you did and many will do. 

John, I agree with you completely. There was a time back when I first heard about air bnb

that guests and hosts were allowed phone conversations with one another before deciding

to share a space . Air BnB has come a long way from the original transparency it was known for.

I too have to consider my options. I have been a very good host for a very long time and had

all kinds of people at a cottage on my somewhat secluded property. I have gotten older and

better at hosting, but now feel I cannot take the risk to welcome someone about whom I

have no information living alone on a large parcel of land. I asked air bnb if I might ask a reservation  reqkuesting guest for their face book page.

They said no. They said only by doing instant book can you request photos or reviews and they don't want you asking for a facebook page etc. I was unable to review my good hearted customer service  person who tried to figure out a secure way for me to have

guests and was turned down by her supervisor at each turn.

Too bad. I will not be coerced into instant book and turn away  someone  when I am uncomfortable and  possibly be sued.  I do hope air bnb

figures out a better way. They can't have guests happy without hosts after all.

Graham and Michelle, are you representing Airbnb or yourself?

But hosts photos are posted up what about discrimination from guests? This is a real backward step, fine if there are no profile pictures at all but seems slanted to guests only.

Really? Who came up with this idea. I am an older woman alone. I want to see who is booking. Who is coming to my house. It's my home, and it's my life. This is not a hotel, I do not have a security staff.  Especially since I have seen on occasions that the only identity verifications for some people has been an email address. Are you sure that you want people to go somewhere that they won't be comfortable? No picture, no verification, no previous recommendations, no booking. Airbnb should stop minding everyones business.

This is very frustrating because our listing requires guests to obtain a profile photo and I've been noticing guests replacing the default "initial photo" Airbnb has with their own version of initials but with a white background instead of gray, so no face -sometimes it's simply a random object. I wonder if the system can detect the difference when a guest does not post an actual photo of themselves and something else. 

@Gabriel643  When I first signed up to host, I tried to post a photo of my dog, simply because I hate photos of myself, and really didn't have any good ones. A message popped up on the screen saying "Is this really you?" so, I know the system can differentiate between an actual face photo and something that's not.

If you mention in your lising that you require a profile photo, as opposed to it just being a requirement for IB, maybe you should further clarify that "profile photo" means a clear photo of one's face, not a cartoon character, a sunset, or a plate of noodles.

But I think if hosts are going to require this of guests, they should also do the same themselves- for instance, your profile photo is taken from such a distance, I wouldn't be able to tell what you looked like.

If you search for guests profile in the search bar you will find the following .

Not sure if it has yet been implemented.

 

John232
Level 10
Bangor, United Kingdom

Hi Kath! Thanks for responding to my message. (One of my daughters lives near Perth WA).

I have been assured many times by Airbnb that all members photos are checked for clear visibility and also checked against other web pictures to ensure they are genuine.  But clearly this is not happening. 

What concerns me more is the recent decision by Airbnb to keep the identity of all potential guests secret until a booking is made. I often have children at home and we decide if we like the look of people before I confirm any booking.  Although very few are rejected it means we have control over who we invite and welcome into our home.  So far I have not had any problems with an Airbnb guest - but I have had problems with Couchsurfers.  However I read with great concern stories posted elsewhere on this site from other hosts who have had considerable difficulties, and a friend of mine who is also an Airbnb host had a very difficult situation with a guest - and Airbnb did deal with it very effectively and quickly. But I am not prepared to subject my home and family to that risk.

 

In this age of internet fraud and fake identities it is absolutely crucial that hosts can decide who they let int their homes.

Since this policy has changed-I’ve had significant damage to my home ($1500) and several other issues since I have to blindly accept a stranger into my home. It’s an incredibly safety issue to open our home blindly to guests. We are private homes, not a hotel! 

Linda149
Level 4
Ilkley, United Kingdom

I have already voiced my concerns to AIRBNB as i wholeheartedly agree we should be able to see the profile picture, not to discrminiate but to ensure it is a picture of a face.

I am not on instant book and have just accepted a booking from someone (profile hidden until confirmed) and now i have accpeted the booking, the profile picture is displayed and is of nothing distingishable! it could be the moon, it could be porno (i kid you not!) I have no idea. 

If i had been able to see the 'profile picture' i would not have accepted until they posted a proper photo. I like to identify the guest when they arrive. As it is i have asked them for one but if they dont comply i will be penalised for cancelling. However if i am on instant book i could cancel without penalty!!?? WHY??

The name provided is also a bit suspect, a Coronation Street character!! even more reason to want to see the face. AIRBNB should insist on a face being shown, and as for monitoring the profile pics, if this was the case they would have instantly seen this is not a pic of a person!!! 

AIRBNB has a duty to ensure we can see who we are hosting.

even if you are on instant book if you cancel it still shows up in your reviews as you have cancelled guest reservation and it does not show the reason or allow you to respond.    

 

More and more, airbnb is taking away the rights of the owner and endangering the safety of the owner and their property.   the expectation we will blindly let strangers into our homes - also a Very expensive asset -  is absurd.

 

If I had another option, i would not be doing airbnb.  with the increase in places, and reduction in guests due to sites like booking.com not charging them service fees, I've gone from 90%occupancy, to 30%occupany and 60% reduction in my rate!!  in just under 2 years.

 

Lately guests have been sending requests for discounts to many hosts, and then taking a reservation, but if a response comes through with a better rate from a different host, they complain to airbnb and get out without penalty!!   three times in past 12 months.

 

 

 

 

Which is why no one should be using instant booking.  Host must screen all their inquiries, through questions and communication.  The profile pic is important, and I will always ask for an updated photo if the one displayed is not a full frontal face with no obstructions.  Also, make sure their profile is complete.  I also ask for the first and last name of each guest.  I let them know governemnt issued photo ID's will be checked on arrival.  The legit guests compy no problem.  It weeds out the frauds.  

 

 

 

 

Kath, no, it is already the case. I have a long list in my archive of guests with profile picture and now receiving requests from face-less guests, just a big grey anonymous circle with a the first letter of their name. Is this how Airbnb wants us to regard our guests? And still call it a community?!

A community without a face is not a community! Then we might as well move our listing to Booking.com.

Linda149
Level 4
Ilkley, United Kingdom

 N

oi Kath. John is right and i totally agree with him. If the guest can see our profile picture then we should be able to see theirs.

Also i cant seem to find reviews from the guests previous hosts although there are 9 on this occasion. Are AIRBNB also hiding these?