Spirit Magazine - May 2014 - (Page 64)

you share online, however, you're potentially risking yourself; if the car doesn't arrive or that apartment doesn't exist, you could be left out in the cold-literally. relax Extended stay reimagined Productivity can't be achieved without balance. Natural saline pools* and complimentary, healthy breakfast at Element hotels bring equilibrium to your workday. Book now for 20% off elementhotels.com ©2012-2014 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Preferred Guest, SPG, Element and their logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its afﬁliates. For full terms of this offer, please visit elementhotels.com *Available in select locations REINFORCING TRUST Thinking about the risks that come with trust can send you careening down the rabbit hole. The power players in the sharing economy know that, and they're proactively working to create policies to protect their users. "This is a brand-new experience for a lot of people, and trust is central because we're at the forefront of creating online-to-offline interactions," says Phil Cardenas, a former U.S. Army intelligence officer who now heads Airbnb's 80-person Trust and Safety team. "It's the lens through which we think about all of our projects." The company already has a no-fee, $1 million guarantee against property damage for its hosts in a number of countries, and it recently began offering safety devices like first-aid kits and smoke detectors to U.S. hosts. In 2013, Airbnb rolled out its Verified ID program to make sure that users' virtual profiles line up with their real-world identities. "When you check into a hotel for the first time, you give a credit card and a copy of your ID," Cardenas says. "We're trying to create a sharingeconomy version of that kind of verification." This sort of program isn't limited to one company: A number of enterprises, including Traity, Virtrue, and Fidbacks, have popped up to provide solutions for establishing and verifying user identities."I truly believe the value of being anonymous in these kinds of Web marketplaces is ending," Botsman says. "You will come to value your identity and want to build that profile because otherwise you won't be able to enter into these new venues. Your reputation will become a commodity." Research suggests that people are more likely to trust someone like themselves, a tendency that's on the rise. The current verification options may not yet be perfect-DeSteno's research has found that an individual's trustworthiness is situational and based on his or her assessment of short-term versus long-term risk, making the past a poor indication of future behavior-but they're a start at creating new protocols for how we as consumers, and, more importantly, as people, comport ourselves online. Will verification push us toward an online Age of Aquarius where we all become better people? It's easy to be your worst self when you're not publicly accountable for your words or deeds, but to thrive in an economy built on trust, we all need to be on our best behavior. Research suggests that people are more likely to trust someone like themselves, a tendency that's on the rise. Future verification systems might help remind us that the people behind the screens are individuals just like us, not just avatars or funny usernames. And then, when we actually come together, face to face, because we're sharing a car or a living space or a bicycle, we'll remember how much we have in common-perhaps discovering, as we navigate an ever-changing digital age, that we've actually been brought closer together. Melinda Mahaffey Icden is Spirit's contributing senior editor. http://www.elementhotels.com http://www.elementhotels.com http://www.elementhotels.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Spirit Magazine - May 2014

Spirit Magazine - May 2014
Contents
Gary’s Greeting
Gary’s Greeting en Español
Star of the Month
Freedom Story
From the Editor
Your Words
Your Pictures
Media Center
Eat Drink Sleep
Beef up broccoli (the vegan way)
Bunk over in Kennebunkport
Encourage creativity in the workplace
Wise Guide
Strengthen your sense of humor
Numbers
Lengthen locks
Learn a minty-fresh fact
Business
Uncover indie e-books
Share with strangers
The Art of the Veer
The Carousel of Happiness
Your Adventure In Providence
Promotional Series: Spirit of California
Promotional Series: Spirit of New Mexico
Calendar
Find fun on the fly
Fun!
Spotlight
Community Outreach
Products & Services
Flight Service
Terminal Maps
Information
Rapid Rewards and A+ Rewards Partners
Route Map
Sit down with Sarah McLachlan
The “If” List

Spirit Magazine - May 2014