An Airbnb host has shared footage of a guest covering a doorbell camera — and it has divided TikTok.
The video shows someone reaching around the doorframe to place a tea towel over the doorbell as on-screen text reads: “That time an Airbnb guest thought it was a good idea to put a towel over the Ring camera.”
The host referred to them as “bonehead guests” in the caption, and used the hashtag “idiot squad”.
The clip certainly seems to have piqued his audience’s curiosity as it has received 3.6 million views since it was uploaded last month.
Not everyone agreed that the guests were “boneheads”, however.
One user wrote: “How odd — a guest wanting privacy.” Another added: “I don’t agree with being spied on at Airbnb”.
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Several commenters explained why the camera is there in the first place. A commenter said the guests could bring in “a ton of people or animals or things not allowed”.
Another said: “You were informed it was there. It’s their security. It’s on the outside. Grow up people. We have a right to safeguard our property.”
Some said having a camera outside the house is no different to hotel hallway having cameras.
However a commenter said that, although she wouldn’t care about visual security cameras, she does find the ones that pick up sound “inappropriate” for a rental.
One TikToker also made the point: “The difference between a hotel camera and an Airbnb. Hotels I’m never worried about the video showing up on social media.”
Some took the opportunity to share experiences in which they’ve had a nosy Airbnb host.
“I stayed at an Airbnb and had food delivered,” a TikToker wrote. “She contacted me about my food before the dasher did. It gave stalker vibes”.
This isn’t the first time the Airbnb host has had guests covering the camera.
In a later video, the TikToker shared footage of three businessmen covering the camera. Then three ladies, who were not part of the reservation, visited the property for an hour.
So what does Airbnb say about how hosts can use cameras and recording devices?
The accommodation company allows hosts to have security cameras and noise-monitoring devices, so long as the host is up-front about it in the listing and it doesn’t infringe on the guest’s privacy.
Cameras are allowed in public spaces (such as a front door) or common areas that “are clearly identified”.
Obviously, cameras can’t be hidden, and can’t monitor private spaces such as bathrooms or bedrooms.
Although this host has done nothing wrong, we have sadly heard of several Airbnb horror stories at indy100...
