Fighting bias with bias: How same-race endorsements reduce racial discrimination on Airbnb

• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add2315
• Publication Date: 2023-02-08T18:57:26Z
• Authors: Minsu Park; Chao Yu; Michael Macy
• Keywords: White (mutation); Racial Bias

Recent studies have documented racial discrimination in online interactions, mirroring the historic bias observed offline. The sharing economy is especially vulnerable due to greater dependence on mutual trust a ride, residence, or date with stranger. These services rely user recommendations build trust, but effects of these peer evaluations are only beginning be explored. Using data from Airbnb, we examine in-group preference for same-race hosts as well recommendations. unexpected result that two manifestations offsetting, not reinforcing. White guests largely overcame their host selection when were endorsed by previous white guests. Moreover, found no evidence affective enthusiasm endorsements, which suggests endorsements motivated race recommender, content recommendation.