I only watched the video because people here mentioned it. CRINGE, as the kids say.
I don’t think it’s geared toward really young folks, though - everyone looks at least in their 30s. But the innuendo is just really, really offensive. “I like 'em big” and “…when you get down on all fours”. It’s not cute.
I know I compare THS to Couchsurfing a lot, but that’s a site that has had a LOT of problems with predatory behavior, and quite frankly this ad would seem to encourage it - even if sitters and HOs have minimal or no in-person overlap, this seems to encourage all sorts of innuendo during communications that should be explicitly forbidden in the TOCs. How did anyone think this was okay in 2026?
@Jenny can you provide any more info on the cancellation deterrent and how it would work? Have they thought through potential issues such as the fact that sitters don’t get the welcome guide or address until after we confirm? Are sitters going to be penalized when they get a welcome guide with dealbreakers? Or if we arrive at a sit that is unacceptable (filthy, cameras, third party, etc)? This puts sitters in a really vulnerable position (HOs too, but I think more so for sitters). We see sitters go forward with sits when there are glaring red flags that show up after confirmation because they think they can’t cancel. This will make them even more likely to continue with a bad situation. Will members not be able to cancel for legitimate reasons without being penalized?
does not mean we shouldn’t voice opposition. There are companies abandoning their AI plans because it isn’t the be-all and end-all they thought it would be (and it’s stupid expensive). Companies should know that AI just makes customers feel angry, not supported.
Very disappointing that you’ve watched this awful advert and your only takeaway is that THS is trying to be too inclusive!
Of course a platform like THS has to show itself as being inclusive - I don’t think single, white, straight cis, men have ever been, nor will ever be their main target audience.
If we’re going to go with comparisons to dating apps, which they are doing in the ads, the obvious issue is that when people meet on dating apps, if it is not a strictly sexual hook up in which both parties are taking some serious risks, then usually people do a google/social media search, meet in the real world usually in a safe public setting, and then make a “date” also not involving giving the person the keys to your home and trusting them with your pride and joy pets.
The fact is that Trusted Housesitters has a “trust” problem. Sitters often have concerns going in that the homeowners may be illgeally monitoring them, the homes might not be clean or uninfested, or there could be other safety issues such as bitey pets. Homeowners have trust concerns as well that despite a few great reviews and even “background checks” the sitter might not be who they seem to be and this can lead to tragedy. The new ads certainly do nothing to address the trust issue. The “higher standards” sound like they are going toward AI matching which won’t make things safer for anyone.
We’ve been busy hiking and we block all ads so we missed the recent THS ads. Given forum thread, just watched on THS channel on youtube. What the heck?!
Can’t even imagine what demographic of target market would find this funny, appropriate or informative about housesitting. Really?! Many pet parents - and maybe housesitters - join THS with fictional expectations and questionable understanding. We meet them & walk away.
Is this offensive drivel being funded by new booking fees? Shame on THS.
I agree. The “sits we think you’d like” has never in the four years I’ve been a member matched anything that I would apply to. Wrong continents, wrong types of pets, and a waste of my browsing time. So irksome!
Only just seen this, never got the email. Reading the comments I thought, it can’t be that bad! OMG, it’s even worse. Cringy and sleazy. Awful beyond words. THS is going in the wrong direction with this.
