Show HN: Which Airbnb did your friends stay in?

#1

Post by arpitagarwal » Thu, Sep 11, 2025, 4:34 PM UTC

Wouldn't finding where your friends stayed increase your confidence in selecting an Airbnb?

Facebook took the network graph SDK away and all social features in apps just died between 2016-2018.

However, those network connections still exist on our phonebooks. I thus built the ContactsManager SDK - to build a network graph, while ensuring privacy of users and their contacts. I don't think anyone wants another Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Have a read here: https://www.contactsmanager.io/case-studies/making-airbnb-so...

Website: https://www.contactsmanager.io

Re: Show HN: Which Airbnb did your friends stay in?

#2

Post by richwater » Thu, Sep 11, 2025, 4:41 PM UTC

> ensuring privacy of users and their contacts

"We help make your super users your best marketers"

Press [ X ] to doubt.

Re: Show HN: Which Airbnb did your friends stay in?

#3

Post by arpitagarwal » Thu, Sep 11, 2025, 5:55 PM UTC

richwater wrote: post #2

> ensuring privacy of users and their contacts "We help make your super users your best marketers" Press [ X ] to doubt.

Thanks for your comment, not sure what you're trying to imply, but don't you think DoorDash or Airbnb would be significantly more valuable if it told you what restaurants/Airbnbs your friends like as well? As compared to reviews from strangers.

[I see the irony as I ask strangers for reviews lol]

Re: Show HN: Which Airbnb did your friends stay in?

#4

Post by richwater » Thu, Sep 11, 2025, 7:38 PM UTC

arpitagarwal wrote: post #3

richwater wrote: post #2

> ensuring privacy of users and their contacts "We help make your super users your best marketers" Press [ X ] to doubt.

Thanks for your comment, not sure what you're trying to imply, but don't you think DoorDash or Airbnb would be significantly more valuable if it told you what restaurants/Airbnbs your friends like as well? As compared to reviews from strangers. [I see the irony as I ask strangers for reviews lol]

For sure, I just doubt that the long-term user privacy will be maintained. Localized data (from the perspective of a graph) is even more valuable than overall data. I suppose I'm just burnt out from privacy being a selling point until...it's not any more.

Re: Show HN: Which Airbnb did your friends stay in?

#5

Post by JohnFen » Thu, Sep 11, 2025, 8:21 PM UTC

arpitagarwal wrote: post #3

richwater wrote: post #2

> ensuring privacy of users and their contacts "We help make your super users your best marketers" Press [ X ] to doubt.

Thanks for your comment, not sure what you're trying to imply, but don't you think DoorDash or Airbnb would be significantly more valuable if it told you what restaurants/Airbnbs your friends like as well? As compared to reviews from strangers. [I see the irony as I ask strangers for reviews lol]

> don't you think DoorDash or Airbnb would be significantly more valuable if it told you what restaurants/Airbnbs your friends like as well?

It wouldn't for me, no. My friends already tell me what restaurants and such they like. There's no need to put an intermediary in that communications.

But I'm just one person.