How this social network for neighborhoods is trying to fix its racism problem

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What do you do when your social network ends up revealing racism in users' back yards? That's the problem Nextdoor, a site that connects people who live in the same area, is trying to tackle. Think of Nextdoor as Facebook, but for your neighborhood: People sign up with their address and then share local news, reunite lost puppies with their owners and report potential safety or crime issues.

But Nextdoor has faced criticism for posts from some of the site's more than 10 million registered users that have veered into racial profiling -- especially concerning crime and safety alerts. In some cases, neighbors would flag "suspicious behavior" by noting the race of someone doing something like walking a dog or knocking on doors. Community groups like Neighbors for Racial Justice in Oakland (CA) are fighting back by raising awareness about the issue and rallying local leaders.


How this social network for neighborhoods is trying to fix its racism problem