Airbnb is in midlife crisis mode

Core business vs. “everything app” pivot

• Many argue Airbnb should stick to its core: short‑term stays in homes, where it still has strong product–market fit. Diversifying into services, “experiences,” and lifestyle is seen as a distraction and risk to the main business.
• Others think the pivot is rational: growth in classic vacation rentals is capped, regulations and taxes are eroding the early cost advantage, and public markets demand new TAM.
• The new “connection platform” / social‑network‑without-calling-it-that, AI “super‑concierge,” and “passport-like” profiles are viewed by most as branding puffery and midlife-crisis behavior, not clearly tied to user needs.

Airbnb vs. hotels and other options

• Many commenters say hotels have caught up: more suite/apartment options, better service, loyalty perks, predictable standards, and (often) equal or lower total price once Airbnb fees are included.
• Airbnb is still valued for specific cases: families with kids (kitchens, separate rooms, laundry), big groups, remote or underserved areas, long stays, or “living like a local” and unique properties.
• Others note that what Airbnb now often provides—professionally managed, IKEA’d apartments—is barely distinguishable from aparthotels or local vacation-rental agencies, which can be cheaper and more responsive.

Trust, safety, and reviews

• Numerous horror stories: misleading photos, hidden fees, illegal listings, extra off‑platform contracts, last‑minute cancellations (e.g., for events), double-bookings, and aggressive damage claims.
• Hidden and semi‑hidden cameras are a recurring fear; some report cameras not disclosed in listings, including pointed near bathrooms and living areas.
• Review systems are widely seen as broken: inflated ratings, retaliation concerns, hosts bribing guests to revise reviews, and Airbnb allegedly removing negative reviews or blocking them on technicalities.
• Support is often described as slow, opaque, and tilted toward hosts; a bad incident can permanently sour users who then switch to Booking/VRBO/hotels.

Regulation, housing, and neighborhood impact

• Several say the core business is structurally threatened: cities are enforcing hotel‑like rules, licensing, and taxes, and capping or banning STRs.
• Sharp disagreement on housing impact: some insist STRs are a tiny share of stock and a scapegoat vs. zoning; others cite specific cities and studies where STR density (5–15% of housing in some areas) clearly raises rents and hollows out communities.
• Neighbors describe constant turnover, party houses, and loss of local social fabric; enforcement against bad actors is seen as weak.

Experiences and services expansion

• “Experiences” is repeatedly compared to Groupon: high platform take, hard unit economics, and existing incumbents (Viator, Klook, ClassPass, etc.).
• Skeptics doubt broad demand for Airbnb‑mediated massages, chefs, trainers, etc., and expect high off‑platform leakage once trust is established.
• Some suggest a more natural expansion would be host‑side services (cleaning, repairs, design) or tightly bundled “concierge” vacations, not a generalized lifestyle super‑app.