“Saya Percaya dan Berbagi dengan Strangers”: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis pada Pengguna Aplikasi Couchsurfing

Abstract

Couchsurfing is a hospitality app that was built in 2004. Each year, the members of the Couchsurfing increase significantly. In 2006, the community had as many as 6,000 members. It has been growth to have more than 12 million members in 2019. There are various benefits that could be obtained by using this application. Members can apply for homestay in host's house when traveling overseas, and vice versa. In addition, they also get the other benefit from Couchsurfing, such as new experiences; honing foreign language skills and fostering self-confidence when interacting with foreigners; increasing knowledge about local wisdom of the visited area; discovering information about the visited area; and expanding the network of friends to international scope. Apart from the benefits mentioned above, Couchsurfing also cannot be separated from the dark side, such as vulnerability to sexual harassment, robbery, and theft because the hosts allow strangers to enter and stay at their homes. From the benefits and disadvantages of Couchsurfing, research was emerged the following questions subsequently: (1) How is the experience of host and surfer in building trust in each other through the Couchsurfing? (2) How is the experience of host and surfer forming close relationships through the Couchsurfing? (3) How is the experience of community members in sharing economy transactions through the Couchsurfing? This study used interpretive paradigm, phenomenological tradition, uncertainty reduction theory, social penetration theory, concept of indebtedness from social exchange theory, and qualitative method with phenomenological approach. For data collection in the field, the researcher conducted in-depth interviews with 12 informants. The informants consists of men and women with various ages. They also have different characteristics, such as living in various city with different conditions of their residence. The results of data collection were analyzed and presented with interpretative phenomenological analysis. Trust between host and surfer is built by reading the information posted on online media. Individual analyzes the data of the potential partner through bio and photos posted on the application, reference comments, and social media. In addition, they cultivate a sense of trust with each other by exchanging conversations through chat features. Trust can also grow if both parties share the same identity and hobbies. The Couchsurfing system, such as verification, ambassador, and comments that cannot be deleted are also factors that can build the trust too. The relationship between the host and the surfer starts from hospitality and fostering trust through online media first. Subsequently, self-disclosure is carried out when the host and surfer have met face to face. If one or the other creates an unpleasant impression or commits acts that are detrimental, depenetration in the relationship would be unavoidable. The characteristic of the exchange system in the Couchsurfing is not only from sharing economy transactions but also from commercial transactions. For this reason, the findings in this study describe the concept of exchange that combines the two types of economic transactions. This new transaction concept relies on the strengths of the community and its technology.