CouchSurfing: Belonging and trust in a globally cooperative online social network

@article{Rosen2011CouchSurfingBA,
  title={CouchSurfing: Belonging and trust in a globally cooperative online social network},
  author={Devan Rosen and Pascale Lafontaine and Blake Hendrickson},
  journal={New Media \& Society},
  year={2011},
  volume={13},
  pages={981 - 998}
}
The current study investigates engagement activities in an online resource exchange community exploring elements such as sense of belonging, connectedness, and trust. CouchSurfing.com is an online cultural exchange community in which members from around the globe coordinate travel accommodations and organize gatherings with fellow members via a social media platform. Findings confirmed that members who have not met face-to-face with other members have a lower sense of belonging to the community… 
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