Craigslist what is it?

Craigslist is one of the most popular online classifieds websites in the world, servicing 50 countries and dozens of small and large cities in the United States and allowing you to post ads for jobs, items you wish to sell and even personals. Craigslist’s popularity has quickly made it a go-to destination for people looking for a deal on the Web. Craigslist itself is not illegal, but you must employ caution when using it to acquire goods and services.

Craigslist History

Craigslist was founded in 1995 by Craig Newmark. The site began as a San Francisco-specific mailing list for classified ads and quickly expanded into other cities. Craigslist currently boasts over 50 billion page views per month, and millions of Craigslist users have completed transactions with the site as a starting point. Since its inception, Craigslist has seen very few visual upgrades, preferring to keep the interface simple and clean.

Craigslist’s Terms of Use

When posting an ad or interacting with any Craigslist function, you must follow the site’s terms of use. Craigslist limits access to those who are 18 and above, not attempting to sell or share illegal goods through the site, and agree to act within the bounds of local law. Additionally, users agree to be responsible for all activities conducted by their accounts and to allow Craigslist staff to moderate posts as the website sees fit. This system helps keep Craigslist postings within the law.

Illegal Activity

Though Craigslist staff works to keep content on the site legal, they have had trouble with illicit postings in the past. Police have conducted several prostitution stings that originated with ads on the website, and it is not uncommon for thieves to attempt to fence stolen goods through the site. Craigslist actively works to police its site and to ensure that posts offering illegal or suspicious goods or services are removed; the community is able to flag posts to assist in this effort.

Best Practices

When dealing with Craigslist, the only guarantee you receive is from the person with whom you are communicating. Craigslist does attempt to ensure posts are legitimate, but does not guarantee anything found on the site. Always bring a friend when checking out goods for sale and treat Craigslist posters like you would any other strangers. If an offer seems too good to be true, show caution in checking it out. Never give up more personal information than is needed to complete a transaction (email and phone number are enough in most cases), and meet people in public places whenever possible.