Services such as Uber and couchsurfing have become increasingly popular. But as you start to look into these services, their credibility starts to seem pretty questionable.

Tired of paying for a hotel every time you travel? You might consider couchsurfing next time, a “free” hospitality service in which a willing host opens their couch (or some other place to sleep) to the interested traveler. There’s no screening process, so anyone who’s interested can make a profile and start hosting. “This sounds like one of those instances that would make a great Lifetime movie,” says sophomore Emma Stack. “With the world we live in today it just sounds like an overly risky situation and I don’t think I could ever do something like couch surf.” And there’s really no way to verify a host’s credentials, except for the reviews on their profile, if any. With nothing to go on except an online profile, this is a “surf at your own risk” kind of thing.

There’s been an explosion of ride-booking services in which patrons arrange their ride ahead of time. Take Uber for instance, a transportation service meant to be more convenient and quicker than the average taxi. Nothing seems too sketchy, until you realize your driver picked up this side-job last week to make a quick buck. That is to say, the driver requirements for Uber are minimal: clean driving record, pass a background check, the basics. Just about anyone can be an Uber driver, as long as they’re “clean”. But not everyone is phased by the lack of quality driver screenings. Sophomore Aileen Shin-Ann says, “Ubers are great! They’re a lot cheaper than taxis and don’t cost way over a student’s price range. It’s really efficient and a lot safer than you think.”
Today, our main concern is convenience. We’ve gotten used to the lifestyle of having everything we may possibly need at our fingertips (or in the Target down the street). Services pop up left and right to make some minute aspect of our life more expedient. But what many fail to see is the fact that society is becoming more dependent on strangers. In many instances face to face contact has become obsolete, including everything from dating to shopping. The world of convenient services has it’s advantages, but is the cost of bargaining our safety worth it?