Craigslist#Adult services controversies and closure

File:Craig-newmark.jpg, the founder of Craigslist, in 2006]]

Having observed people helping one another in friendly, social, and trusting communal ways on the Internet via the WELL, MindVox and Usenet, and feeling isolated as a relative newcomer to San Francisco, Craigslist founder Craig Newmark decided to create something similar for local events.{{cite web |url=http://www.craigslist.org/about/factsheet |title=about > factsheet |publisher=craigslist |date=November 29, 2010 |access-date=July 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805110958/http://www.craigslist.org/about/factsheet |archive-date=August 5, 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|access-date=November 15, 2011|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2004%2F08%2F15%2FNEWMARK.TMP&ao=all|title=On The Record: Craig Newmark|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=August 14, 2004|archive-date=December 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111225090728/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2004%2F08%2F15%2FNEWMARK.TMP&ao=all|url-status=dead}} In early 1995, he began an email distribution list to friends. Most of the early postings were submitted by Newmark and were notices of social events of interest to software and Internet developers living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The number of subscribers and postings grew rapidly via manual advertising. There was no moderation and Newmark was surprised when people started using the mailing list for non-event postings.{{Cite news|url=https://gizmodo.com/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-craig-from-cra-1262446153|title=Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Craig From Craigslist|last=Boulton|first=Terynn|work=Gizmodo|access-date=February 20, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=February 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221012049/http://gizmodo.com/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-craig-from-cra-1262446153|url-status=live}} People trying to get technical positions filled found that the list was a good way to reach people with the skills they were looking for. This led to the addition of a jobs category. User demand for more categories caused the list of categories to grow. The initial technology encountered some limits, so by {{Nowrap|June 1995}} Majordomo had been installed, and the mailing list "Craigslist" resumed operations. Community members started asking for a web interface. Newmark registered "craigslist.org", and the website went live in 1996.

In the fall of 1998, the name "List Foundation" was introduced, and Craigslist started transitioning to the use of this name. In {{Nowrap|April 1999}}, when Newmark learned of other organizations called "List Foundation", the use of this name was dropped. Craigslist was incorporated as a private for-profit company in 1999. Around the time of these events, Newmark realized the site was growing so fast that he could stop working as a software engineer and devote his full attention to running Craigslist. By {{Nowrap|April 2000}}, nine employees were working out of Newmark's San Francisco apartment.{{cite web | url = http://craigslist.org/aboutus.html | title = Archived page from Craigslist's About Us | date = April 19, 2000 | access-date =February 8, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000620192058/http://craigslist.org/aboutus.html |archive-date=June 20, 2000}}

In January 2000, current CEO Jim Buckmaster joined the company as lead programmer and CTO. Buckmaster contributed to the site's multi-city architecture, search engine, discussion forums, flagging system, self-posting process, homepage design, personals categories, and best-of-Craigslist feature. He was promoted to CEO in {{Nowrap|November 2000}}.{{cite web | url = http://www.craigslist.org/about/management.html |title = Jim Buckmaster—CEO & programmer | access-date =September 6, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070630145737/http://www.craigslist.org/about/management.html |archive-date = June 30, 2007}}

The website expanded into nine more U.S. cities in 2000, four in 2001 and 2002, and 14 in 2003. On August 1, 2004, Craigslist began charging $25 to post job openings on the New York and Los Angeles pages. On the same day, a new section called "Gigs" was added, where low-cost and unpaid jobs can be posted for free.

In March 2008, Spanish, French, Italian, German, and Portuguese became the first non-English languages Craigslist supported.{{cite web |author=Craig Newmark |author-link=Craig Newmark |date=March 27, 2008 |title=Multiple language support on Craigslist |url=http://www.cnewmark.com/2008/03/multiple-langua.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005220720/http://www.cnewmark.com/2008/03/multiple-langua.html |archive-date=October 5, 2008 |access-date=September 13, 2008 |publisher=cnewmark |df=mdy-all}} As of August 9, 2012, over 700 cities and areas in 70 countries had Craigslist sites.{{cite web |title=about > factsheet |url=http://www.craigslist.org/about/factsheet |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805110958/http://www.craigslist.org/about/factsheet |archive-date=August 5, 2012 |access-date=August 9, 2012 |publisher=craigslist.org}} Some Craigslist sites cover large regions instead of individual metropolitan areas—for example, the U.S. states of Delaware and Wyoming, the Colorado Western Slope, the California Gold Country, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.{{cite web |date=August 21, 2009 |title=about > expansion |url=http://www.craigslist.org/about/expansion |access-date=July 30, 2011 |publisher=craigslist |archive-date=July 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728002020/http://www.craigslist.org/about/expansion |url-status=live }} Craigslist sites for some large cities, such as Los Angeles, also include the ability for the user to focus on a specific area of a city (such as central Los Angeles).

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File:Craigslist01.jpg of San Francisco prior to 2010]]

The site serves more than 20 billion{{Cite news|url=http://www.statisticbrain.com/craigslist-statistics/|title=Craigslist Statistics|date=September 14, 2016|newspaper=Statistic Brain|access-date=February 20, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=February 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221005554/http://www.statisticbrain.com/craigslist-statistics/|url-status=live}} page views per month, putting it in 72nd place overall among websites worldwide and 11th place overall among websites in the United States (per Alexa.com on {{Nowrap|June 28}}, 2016), with more than {{Nowrap|49.4 million}} unique monthly visitors in the United States alone (per Compete.com on {{Nowrap|January 8}}, 2010). With more than {{Nowrap|80 million}} new classified advertisements each month, Craigslist is the leading classifieds service in any medium.{{according to whom|date=June 2024}}{{cn|date=June 2024}}

Back in 2009, the site received more than {{Nowrap|2 million}} new job listings each month, making it one of the top job boards in the world.{{cite web | url =http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_SellingOnline_Nov05.pdf | title = Selling items online | author=Lenhart, Amanda |author2=Shermak, Jeremy |date=November 2005 | publisher=Pew Research Center | access-date =September 6, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070714052427/http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_SellingOnline_Nov05.pdf |archive-date = July 14, 2007}}{{cite web | url=http://www.craigslist.org/about/pr/factsheet | title = craigslist fact sheet | author=craigslist.org | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201235302/http://www.craigslist.org/about/pr/factsheet | archive-date=February 1, 2009}} The 23 largest U.S. cities listed on the Craigslist home page collectively receive more than 300,000 postings per day just in the "for sale" and "housing" sections as of October 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.cltracker.net/overall/|title=Craigslist Tracker Overall Stats|access-date=October 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316071959/http://www.cltracker.net/overall/|archive-date=March 16, 2012|url-status=dead}} The classified advertisements range from traditional buy/sell ads and community announcements to personal ads.

In 2009, Craigslist operated with a staff of 28 people.{{cite news|access-date=April 7, 2009|url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/2007-01-02-terror-war-business-usat_x.htm|title=Can small businesses help win the war?|work=USA Today|date=January 2, 2007|first=Del|last=Jones|archive-date=February 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213142939/http://www.usatoday.com/money/2007-01-02-terror-war-business-usat_x.htm|url-status=live}} By 2019 this number grew to 50 people. In that year alone the company made more than $1 billion in revenue, while charging only ca.5 US$ for most ads (the exact price depends on the type of ad and service/property location).Antonoudi, E. The impact of the online marketplace on fraud : evidence from Craigslist from its early adoption in 1995 to its wider expansion in 2006. PhD thesis. Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan., 2023. https://hdl.handle.net/2097/43533.Johnson, D. 11 mind-blowing facts about Craigslist, which makes more than $1 billion a year and employs just 50 people. Business Insider (New York), 05/17/2019.

In December 2006, at the UBS Global Media Conference in New York, Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster told Wall Street analysts that Craigslist had little interest in maximizing profit, and instead preferred to help users find cars, apartments, jobs and dates.{{cite web |access-date=November 30, 2016 |url=http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/52242/just-an-online-minute-stunning-wall-street-shu.html |title=Just An Online Minute ... Stunning Wall Street, Shunning Profits |publisher=MediaPost |date=December 7, 2006 |last=Davis |first=Wendy |archive-date=December 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201015928/http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/52242/just-an-online-minute-stunning-wall-street-shu.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news|access-date=May 9, 2013|url=https://www.forbes.com/2006/12/08/newspaper-classifield-online-tech_cx-lh_1211craigslist.html|title=Newspaper Killer|work=Forbes|date=December 11, 2006|author=Hau, Louis|archive-date=September 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909054652/https://www.forbes.com/2006/12/08/newspaper-classifield-online-tech_cx-lh_1211craigslist.html|url-status=live}}

Craigslist's main source of revenue is paid job ads in select American cities. The company does not formally disclose financial or ownership information. Analysts and commentators have reported varying figures for its annual revenue, ranging from $10 million in 2004, $20 million in 2005, and {{Nowrap|$25 million}} in 2006 to possibly {{Nowrap|$150 million}} in 2007.{{cite news | url = https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005/12/12/8363113/index.htm | work = Fortune | access-date = August 22, 2007 | title = Burning Sensation | author = Lashinsky, Adam | date = December 12, 2005 | archive-date = December 10, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071210011718/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2005/12/12/8363113/index.htm | url-status = live }}[http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110008531 "Zen and the Art of Classified Advertising: Craigslist could make $500 million a year. Why not?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903125319/http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110008531 |date=September 3, 2009 }}. Carney, Brian M. (June 17, 2006). The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 22, 2007.{{cite web|author=Owen Thomas |url=http://gawker.com/valleywag/tech/mythbusting/craig-newmark-filthy-rich-on-ebays-millions-283002.php |title=Craig Newmark, filthy rich on eBay's millions |publisher=Gawker.com |date=July 26, 2007 |access-date=July 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827133025/http://gawker.com/valleywag/tech/mythbusting/craig-newmark-filthy-rich-on-ebays-millions-283002.php |archive-date=August 27, 2011 }} Fortune has described their revenue model as "quasi-socialist", citing their focus on features for users regardless of profitability. Eric Baker of StubHub has described the site as a "potential gold mine of revenue if only it would abandon its communist manifesto."

On August 13, 2004, Newmark announced on his blog that auction giant eBay had purchased a 25% stake in the company from a former employee.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnewmark.com/archives/000265.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040813165340/http://www.cnewmark.com/archives/000265.html|title=craigblog|archive-date=August 13, 2004}} Some fans of Craigslist expressed concern that this development would affect the site's longtime non-commercial nature. {{As of|2024|1}}, there have been no substantive changes to the usefulness or the non-advertising nature of the site; neither banner ads, nor charges for a few services provided to businesses.

The company was believed to be owned principally by Newmark, Buckmaster, and eBay (the three board members). eBay owned approximately 25%, and Newmark is believed to own the largest stake.{{cite news | publisher=CNET | title=Craigslist grapples with competitor on board | author=Sandoval, Greg | date=July 3, 2007 | access-date=August 22, 2007 | url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1024_3-6194872.html | archive-date=August 10, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810033609/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1024_3-6194872.html | url-status=live }}

In April 2008, eBay announced it was suing Craigslist to "safeguard its four-year financial investment". eBay claimed that in {{Nowrap|January 2008}}, Craigslist executives took actions that "unfairly diluted eBay's economic interest by more than 10%".{{cite news | access-date=May 8, 2008 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7362221.stm | title=EBay sues Craigslist ad website | publisher=BBC | date=April 23, 2008 | archive-date=August 12, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812172840/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7362221.stm | url-status=live }} Craigslist filed a counter-suit in {{Nowrap|May 2008}} to "remedy the substantial and ongoing harm to fair competition" that Craigslist claimed was constituted by eBay's actions as Craigslist shareholders; the company claimed that it had used its minority stake to gain access to confidential information, which it then used as part of its competing service Kijiji.{{cite news | access-date=May 13, 2008 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7399720.stm | title=Craigslist strikes back at eBay | publisher=BBC | date=May 13, 2008 | archive-date=September 16, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916224915/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7399720.stm | url-status=live }}

On June 19, 2015, eBay Inc. announced that it would divest its stake back to Craigslist for an undisclosed amount, and settle its litigation with the company. The move came shortly before eBay's planned spin-off of PayPal, and an effort to divest other units to focus on its core business.{{cite news|title=EBay Divests Craigslist Stake, Ends Litigation|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/ebay-sells-craigslist-stake-back-to-craigslist-1434730678|access-date=June 20, 2015|work=The Wall Street Journal|archive-date=June 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620022758/http://www.wsj.com/articles/ebay-sells-craigslist-stake-back-to-craigslist-1434730678|url-status=live}}

The Swedish luxury marketplace website Jameslist.com received a lawsuit filed on July 11, 2012,{{cite news|url=http://www.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2012/07/12/craigslist-sues-jameslist-for-obvious-reasons|title=CraigsList sues JamesList, the "Craigslist for the rich"|last=Sherbert|first=Erin|date=July 12, 2012|work=San Francisco Weekly|access-date=June 29, 2016|archive-date=September 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911152223/http://www.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2012/07/12/craigslist-sues-jameslist-for-obvious-reasons|url-status=live}} which among unspecified damages also asked for a complete shutdown of Jameslist.com {{cite news|url=http://domainnamewire.com/2012/07/20/craigslist-sues-jameslist/|title=CraigsList sues JamesList, the "Craigslist for the rich"|last=Allemann|first=Andrew|date=July 20, 2012|access-date=June 29, 2016|archive-date=August 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818003356/http://domainnamewire.com/2012/07/20/craigslist-sues-jameslist/|url-status=live}} As a consequence, the young company was forced to rename to JamesEdition.

As of 2012, mashup sites such as padmapper.com and housingmaps.com were overlaying Craigslist data with Google Maps and adding their own search filters to improve usability. In June 2012, Craigslist changed its terms of service to disallow the practice. In July 2012, Craigslist filed a lawsuit against padmapper.com.{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/07/craigslist-sues-padmapper-for-copyright-infringement/|title=Craigslist sues site that makes its apartment listings easier to find (Updated)|first=Cyrus|last=Farivar|work=Ars Technica|date=July 24, 2012|access-date=June 14, 2017|archive-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902002253/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/07/craigslist-sues-padmapper-for-copyright-infringement/|url-status=live}} Following the shutdown of Padmapper.com, some users complained that the service was useful to them and therefore should have remained intact.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ericgoldman/2013/05/23/craigslists-anti-consumer-lawsuit-threatens-to-break-internet-law/|title=Craigslist's Anti-Consumer Lawsuit Threatens to Break Internet Law|last=Goldman|first=Eric|work=Forbes|access-date=March 4, 2014|archive-date=March 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329144319/http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericgoldman/2013/05/23/craigslists-anti-consumer-lawsuit-threatens-to-break-internet-law/|url-status=live}}

In December 2019, Craigslist introduced a platform for iOS and a beta version on Android.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/5/20996731/craigslist-app-official-launched-ios-android-play-store|title=Craigslist, founded 24 years ago, is finally getting its first official app|last=Vincent|first=James|date=December 5, 2019|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=December 5, 2019|archive-date=December 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205130527/https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/5/20996731/craigslist-app-official-launched-ios-android-play-store|url-status=live}}

Craigslist is famous for its repeated refusal to update its website appearance. In 2025 it still features a 1995 'barebones' design, which became its most recognizable feature.Lingel, J. An Internet for the People: The Politics and Promise of craigslist. (Princeton University Press, 2020).Lingel, J. An Internet for the People: The Politics and Promise of craigslist. (Princeton University Press, 2020).

Over the years Craigslist had become a very popular online destination for arranging for dates and sex.[http://chicago.timeout.com/articles/sex-dating/79484/craigslist-hookups Craigslist hookups] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016101125/http://chicago.timeout.com/articles/sex-dating/79484/craigslist-hookups |date=October 16, 2009 }}, Timeout.com, 2009[http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/national/college-student-to-launch-%27sex-hookup-site%27 College student to launch 'sex hookup site: It's safer than CraigList, and cheaper than bars] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204004257/http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/national/college-student-to-launch-%27sex-hookup-site%27 |date=December 4, 2010 }}, ABC News[http://www.theotherpaper.com/articles/2010/10/28/cover_story/doc4cc97ae6702ba326065179.txt Columbus Sex Survey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130204015427/http://www.theotherpaper.com/articles/2010/10/28/cover_story/doc4cc97ae6702ba326065179.txt |date=February 4, 2013 }}, The Other PaperPaul LaRosa and Maria Cramer, [https://books.google.com/books?id=y8rWfwKR1SQC&dq=craigslist+hookup&pg=PA1 Seven Days of Rage: The Deadly Crime Spree of the Craigslist Killer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703221228/https://books.google.com/books?id=y8rWfwKR1SQC&dq=craigslist+hookup&pg=PA1 |date=July 3, 2023 }}, Simon and Schuster, 2009.[https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs10461-009-9661-8 Risky Sex- and Drug-Seeking in a Probability Sample of Men-for-Men Online Bulletin Board Postings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703221225/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10461-009-9661-8 |date=July 3, 2023 }}, by Christian Grov The personals section allows for postings that are for "strictly platonic", "dating/romance", and "casual encounters".

The site was considered particularly useful by lesbians and gay men seeking to make connections, because of the service's free and open nature and because of the difficulty of otherwise finding each other in more conservative areas.[https://books.google.com/books?id=DGUEAAAAMBAJ&dq=San+Francisco+City+Clinic+-%22Webster%27s+Quotations%22&pg=PA69 The Hottest Spot Online – The explosively popular-and free-Craigslist attracts both gay men and lesbians by the thousands but the guys and gals aren't generally looking for the same things] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703221146/https://books.google.com/books?id=DGUEAAAAMBAJ&dq=San+Francisco+City+Clinic+-%22Webster%27s+Quotations%22&pg=PA69 |date=July 3, 2023 }}, by Ann Rostow. The Advocate.

In 2005, San Francisco Craigslist's men seeking men section was attributed to facilitating sexual encounters and was the second most common correlation to syphilis infections. The company has been pressured by San Francisco Department of Public Health officials, prompting Jim Buckmaster to state that the site has a very small staff and that the public "must police themselves". The site has, however, added links to San Francisco City Clinic and STD forums.

On March 22, 2018, Craigslist discontinued its "Personals" section in the United States in response to the passing of the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA), which removes Section 230 safe harbours for interactive services knowingly involved in illegal sex trafficking. The service stated that

US Congress just passed HR 1865, 'FOSTA', seeking to subject websites to criminal and civil liability when third parties (users) misuse online personals unlawfully. Any tool or service can be misused. We can't take such risk without jeopardizing all our other services, so we are regretfully taking craigslist personals offline. To the millions of spouses, partners, and couples who met through craigslist, we wish you every happiness!{{Cite news|url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/wj75ab/craigslist-personal-ads-sesta-fosta|title=Craigslist Just Nuked Its Personal Ads Section Because of a Sex-Trafficking Bill|date=2018-03-23|work=Motherboard|publisher=Vice|access-date=2018-03-23|language=en-us|archive-date=March 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324041405/https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/wj75ab/craigslist-personal-ads-sesta-fosta|url-status=live}}

File:Craiglistcensorsadultservices.png

Advertisements for "adult" (previously "erotic") services were initially given special treatment, then closed entirely on {{Nowrap|September 4}}, 2010, following a controversy over claims by state attorneys general that the advertisements promoted prostitution.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/08/25/craigslist.adult.content/index.html?hpt=Mid|publisher=CNN|title=Attorneys general call for Craigslist to get rid of adult services ads|date=August 26, 2010|access-date=August 26, 2010|archive-date=August 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828191142/http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/08/25/craigslist.adult.content/index.html?hpt=Mid|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Craigslist Blocks Access to 'Adult Services' Pages |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/technology/05craigs.html?_r=1&hp |first=Claire Cain |last=Miller |date=September 4, 2010 |work=The New York Times |access-date=September 4, 2010 |archive-date=May 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520222920/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/technology/05craigs.html?_r=1&hp |url-status=live }}

In 2002, a disclaimer was put on the "men seeking men", "casual encounters", "erotic services", and "rants and raves" boards to ensure that those who clicked on these sections were over the age of 18, but no disclaimer was put on the "men seeking women", "women seeking men" or "women seeking women" boards. As a response to charges of sex discrimination and negative stereotyping, Buckmaster explained that the company's policy is a response to user feedback requesting the warning on the more sexually explicit sections, including "men seeking men".{{cite web | url = http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=2296 | title = Warning: men seeking men—Craigslist posts disclaimer for gay male personals | date = August 31, 2005 | work=Southern Voice | access-date =September 6, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070702115137/http://www.sovo.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=2296 |archive-date = July 2, 2007}}

On May 13, 2009, Craigslist announced that it would close the erotic services section, replacing it with an adult services section to be reviewed by Craigslist employees. This decision came after allegations by several U.S. states that the erotic services ads were being used for prostitution.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/technology/companies/14craigslist.html | title=Craigslist to Remove Category for Erotic Services | work=The New York Times | date=May 13, 2009 | first=Brad | last=Stone | access-date=April 30, 2010 | archive-date=August 30, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830130526/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/technology/companies/14craigslist.html | url-status=live }}

On September 4, 2010, Craigslist closed the adult services section of its website in the United States. The site initially replaced the adult services page link with the word "censored" in white-on-black text. The site received criticism and complaints from attorneys general that the section's ads were facilitating prostitution and child sex trafficking.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/09/04/craigslist.censored/index.html?hpt=T2|title=Adult services censored on Craigslist|publisher=CNN|date=September 5, 2010|access-date=September 5, 2010|archive-date=November 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109132459/http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/09/04/craigslist.censored/index.html?hpt=T2|url-status=live}}[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/04/BU841F8URH.DTL#ixzz0ykq1HJrf Craigslist removes ads for adult services] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100908051536/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/04/BU841F8URH.DTL#ixzz0ykq1HJrf |date=September 8, 2010 }}, James Temple, San Francisco Chronicle, {{Nowrap|September 4}}, 2010

The adult services section link was still active in countries outside of the U.S.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/09/04/craigslist.censored/index.html?hpt=T2|title=Adult services censored on Craigslist|publisher=CNN|date=May 9, 2010|access-date=May 9, 2010|archive-date=November 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109132459/http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/09/04/craigslist.censored/index.html?hpt=T2|url-status=live}} Matt Zimmerman, senior staff attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said, "Craigslist isn't legally culpable for these posts, but the public pressure has increased and Craigslist is a small company." Brian Carver, attorney and assistant professor at UC Berkeley, said that legal threats could have a chilling effect on online expression. "If you impose liability on Craigslist, YouTube and Facebook for anything their users do, then they're not going to take chances. It would likely result in the takedown of what might otherwise be perfectly legitimate free expression."[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/04/BU841F8URH.DTL#ixzz0ykq1HJrf Craigslist removes ads for adult services] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100908051536/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/04/BU841F8URH.DTL#ixzz0ykq1HJrf |date=September 8, 2010 }}, James Temple, San Francisco Chronicle, September 4, 2010

On {{Nowrap|September 8}}, 2010, the "censored" label and its dead link to adult services were completely removed.{{cite news |title=Craigslist Pulls 'Censored' Label From Sex Ads Area |url=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/09/craigslist-pulls-censored-label-from-sex-ads-area/ |first=Claire |last=Miller |date=September 9, 2010 |access-date=September 12, 2010 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=September 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100912151204/http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/09/craigslist-pulls-censored-label-from-sex-ads-area/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Craigslist removes 'censored' bar from site |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20015915-71.html |first=Chris |last=Matyszczyk |date=September 8, 2010 |publisher=CNET |access-date=September 12, 2010 |archive-date=May 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513210259/http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20015915-71.html |url-status=dead }}

Craigslist announced on September 15, 2010, that it had closed its adult services in the United States; however, it defended its right to carry such ads. Free speech and some sex crime victim advocates criticized the removal of the section, saying that it threatened free speech and that it diminished law enforcement's ability to track criminals. However, the removal was applauded by many state attorneys general and some other groups fighting sex crimes. Craigslist said that there is some indication that those who posted ads in the adult services section are posting elsewhere. Sex ads had cost $10 initially and it was estimated they would have brought in $44 million in 2010 had they continued.{{cite news |title=Craigslist Says It Has Shut Its Section for Sex Ads |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/16/business/16craigslist.html?scp=2&sq=Craigslist&st=cse |first=Claire Cain |last=Miller |work=The New York Times |date=September 15, 2010 |access-date=September 17, 2010 |archive-date=May 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520225008/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/16/business/16craigslist.html?scp=2&sq=Craigslist&st=cse |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |title=Craigslist Comes Clean: No More 'Adult Services,' Ever |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2019499,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918035232/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2019499,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 18, 2010 |first=Michael A.|last=Lindenberger |magazine=Time |date=September 16, 2010 |access-date=September 17, 2010}} In the four months following the closure, monthly revenue from sex ads on six other sites (primarily Backpage) increased from $2.1 to $3.1 million, partly due to price increases.{{cite web|url=http://aimgroup.com/blog/2011/01/26/price-increases-drive-growth-in-adult-ad-revenue/|title=Price increases drive growth in adult ad revenue|publisher=AIM group|date=January 26, 2011|access-date=May 28, 2011|archive-date=June 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606052420/http://aimgroup.com/blog/2011/01/26/price-increases-drive-growth-in-adult-ad-revenue/|url-status=live}}

The company has tried to fight prostitution and sex trafficking, and in 2015, Craig Newmark received an award from the FBI for cooperation with law enforcement to fight human trafficking.{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/craigslist-founder-craig-newmark-isn-closing-site-erotic-section-article-1.361830|title=Craigslist founder Craig Newmark isn't closing site's 'erotic' section - NY Daily News|agency=Associated Press|date=April 25, 2009|work=New York Daily News|access-date=February 22, 2016|archive-date=March 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302102627/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/craigslist-founder-craig-newmark-isn-closing-site-erotic-section-article-1.361830|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CO&s_site=charlotte&p_multi=CO&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11F98090379A4C78&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Charlotte: Search Results|access-date=February 22, 2016|archive-date=October 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018133540/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CO&s_site=charlotte&p_multi=CO&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11F98090379A4C78&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-crime-craigslist-idUSBRE9330LS20130404|title=Ohio judge sentences convicted Craigslist killer to death|author=Kim Palmer|date=April 4, 2013|work=Reuters|access-date=July 5, 2021|archive-date=December 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220182922/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/04/us-usa-crime-craigslist-idUSBRE9330LS20130404|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyfinance.com/on/conmen-seeking-suckers-beware-of-stolen-merchandise-on-craigsli/|title=Conmen Seeking Suckers: Beware of Stolen Merchandise on Craigslist|author=dailyfinance staff|date=August 27, 2013|work=DailyFinance.com|access-date=February 22, 2016|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303015614/http://www.dailyfinance.com/on/conmen-seeking-suckers-beware-of-stolen-merchandise-on-craigsli/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://theringer.com/craig-newmark-interview-craigslist-journalism-421c50020179|title=Craig From Craigslist's Second Act|date=June 2017|access-date=June 12, 2017|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703231155/https://www.theringer.com/2017/6/1/16042734/craig-newmark-interview-craigslist-journalism-421c50020179|url-status=live}}

On {{Nowrap|December 19}}, 2010, after pressure from Ottawa and several provinces, Craigslist closed 'Erotic Services' and 'Adult Gigs' from its Canadian website, even though prostitution was not itself illegal in Canada at the time.{{cite web|url=http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101218/101218_craigslist_prostitute/20101218/?hub=CP24Home|date=December 18, 2010|publisher=The Canadian Press|title=Craigslist pulls 'erotic services' from Canadian site|access-date=December 19, 2010|archive-date=July 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708200431/http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20101218/101218_craigslist_prostitute/20101218/?hub=CP24Home|url-status=live}}

When the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act was signed into law on April 11, 2018, Craigslist chose to close its "Personals" section within all US domains to avoid civil lawsuits.{{cite journal|last1= Eichert|first1= David|title= 'It Ruined My Life: FOSTA, Male Escorts, and the Construction of Sexual Victimhood in American Politics|url= http://vjspl.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/12.2-FOSTA.pdf|journal= Virginia Journal of Social Policy & the Law|date= March 12, 2022|volume= 26|issue= 3|pages= 201–245|access-date= July 27, 2020|archive-date= July 27, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200727191658/http://vjspl.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/12.2-FOSTA.pdf|url-status= dead}} About their decision, Craigslist stated "Any tool or service can be misused. We can't take such risk without jeopardizing all our other services."{{Cite news|url=https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/wj75ab/craigslist-personal-ads-sesta-fosta|title=Craigslist Just Nuked Its Personal Ads Section Because of a Sex-Trafficking Bill|date=March 23, 2018|work=Motherboard|access-date=March 23, 2018|publisher=Vice|language=en-us|archive-date=March 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324041405/https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/wj75ab/craigslist-personal-ads-sesta-fosta|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.craigslist.org/about/FOSTA?lang=en&cc=gb|title=craigslist {{!}} about {{!}} FOSTA|website=www.craigslist.org|access-date=April 12, 2018|archive-date=April 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412212407/https://www.craigslist.org/about/FOSTA?lang=en&cc=gb|url-status=live}}

Craigslist has a user flagging system to report illegal and inappropriate postings.

Flagging does not require account login or registration, and can be done anonymously by anyone.{{cite web | url = http://www.eskimo.com/~newowl/Flagged_FAQ.htm#000 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120805045207/http://www.eskimo.com/~newowl/Flagged_FAQ.htm#000 | url-status = dead| title = Unofficial Flagging FAQ | publisher = Craigslist users | access-date = September 15, 2010 | archive-date = August 5, 2012 }} Postings are subject to automated removal when a certain number of users flag them. The number of flags required for a posting's removal is dynamically variable and remains unknown to all but Craigslist staff. Some users allege that flagging may also occur as acts of vandalism by groups of individuals at different ISPs, but no evidence of this has ever been shown. Flagging can also alert Craigslist staff to blocks of ads requiring manual oversight or removal.{{better source needed|date=October 2022}}{{Cite web |title=craigslist {{!}} about {{!}} help {{!}} faqs {{!}} flagging |url=https://www.craigslist.org/about/help/faqs/flagging |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.craigslist.org}}

Flagging is also done by Craigslist itself (Craigslist's automated systems) and the posts will never appear on the search results.{{Cite web | url=https://www.craigslist.org/about/help/flags_and_community_moderation | title=Craigslist | about | help | flags and community moderation | access-date=September 24, 2019 | archive-date=September 14, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914205439/https://www.craigslist.org/about/help/flags_and_community_moderation | url-status=live }}

Craigslist includes a barter option in its "for sale" section. This growing trade economy has been documented on the television program Barter Kings and the blog one red paperclip.{{cite web |author=Chris Matyszczyk |date=July 20, 2010 |title=Teen Trades Old Cell Phone on Craigslist, Gets Porsche |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20011064-71.html |publisher=CNET |access-date=March 18, 2014 |archive-date=August 31, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831102534/http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20011064-71.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |first=Brian |last=Bergstein |date=April 16, 2006 |title=Man Uses a Paper Clip to Barter for House |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-04-16-paper-clip-barter_x.htm |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |access-date=August 5, 2016 |archive-date=October 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008215553/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-04-16-paper-clip-barter_x.htm |url-status=live }}

From its earliest days Craigslist faced criticism for allowing illegal/unethical activities and for poor protection of buyers and sellers. Some well-recognized types of illegal activities comprise: counterfeit goods, advanced fee fraud and buyer-seller collusion.https://www.sharetribe.com/academy/financial-crime-marketplaces/ In "counterfeit goods" scam, the seller uses a marketplace to sell illegal or counterfeit products, while misrepresenting them as legitimate goods. In "advanced fee fraud" the seller tricks the buyer's into making an unsecured (i.e. not via a credit card or another legitimate escrow service) payment before receiving the product/service.{{cite web | website=Craigslist | url=https://www.craigslist.org/about/help/safety/scams/identifying | title=Identifying Scams | access-date=September 29, 2024}} In "buyer-seller collusion" a fraudulent buyer uses the victim's payment information (such as a credit card number) to buy fake goods from a colluding fake seller, thus getting the money from the victim and evading the traditional credit card safeguard practices.

In its defense Craigslist successfully used Section 230 of the US Communications Decency Act (CDA), which states that websites cannot be held liable for the actions of their users. Craigslist also successfully challenged a 2017 FOSTA amendment to the CDA, which created an exception allowing legal actions against a platform,

if its users violate federal sex-trafficking laws (see Dart v. Craigslist, Inc.).

In July 2005, the San Francisco Chronicle criticized Craigslist for allowing ads from dog breeders, stating that this could encourage the over-breeding and irresponsible selling of pit bulls in the Bay Area.{{cite news | url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/07/11/MNGJ2DLUUH1.DTL | title = Craigslist pressured to ban dog, cat ads | date = July 11, 2005 | first = Ilene | last = Lelchuk | work = San Francisco Chronicle | access-date = September 6, 2007 | archive-date = January 28, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120128014629/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2005%2F07%2F11%2FMNGJ2DLUUH1.DTL | url-status = live }} According to Craigslist's terms of service, the sale of pets is prohibited, though re-homing with small adoption fees is acceptable.{{cite web | work = About | url = http://www.craigslist.org/about/prohibited | publisher = Craigslist | title = Prohibited Items | access-date = December 16, 2014 | archive-date = December 23, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141223165940/http://www.craigslist.org/about/prohibited | url-status = live }}

In addition to allowing illegal activities and to poor customer protection, Craigslist has been numerous times accused of unfair competition.{{cn|date=September 2024}} For example, in January 2006, the San Francisco Bay Guardian published an editorial claiming that Craigslist could threaten the business of local alternative newspapers.{{cite web | url = http://www.sfbg.com/40/18/x_editors_notes.html | title = Editor's Notes | first = Tim | last = Redmond | work = San Francisco Bay Guardian | date = July 11, 2005 | access-date = September 6, 2007 | archive-date = December 5, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101205041004/http://www.sfbg.com/40/18/x_editors_notes.html | url-status = dead }}

L. Gordon Crovitz, writing for The Wall Street Journal, criticized the company for using lawsuits "to prevent anyone from doing to it what it did to newspapers", contrary to the spirit of the website, which describes itself as a "noncommercial nature, public service mission, and noncorporate culture".{{cite web | url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323744604578475033894975780 | title = Toward Rivals, It's Craigslitigious | first = L. Gordon | last = Crovitz | author-link = L. Gordon Crovitz | work = The Wall Street Journal | date = May 12, 2013 | access-date = August 18, 2013 | archive-date = January 12, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150112210337/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323744604578475033894975780 | url-status = live }}

This article was a reaction to lawsuits from Craigslist, which Crovitz says were intended to prevent competition. Craigslist filed a trademark lawsuit against the Swedish luxury marketplace website Jameslist.com on July 11, 2012,{{cite news | url = http://www.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2012/07/12/craigslist-sues-jameslist-for-obvious-reasons | title = CraigsList sues JamesList, the "Craigslist for the rich" | date = July 12, 2012 | first = Erin | last = Sherbert | work = San Francisco Weekly | access-date = June 29, 2016 | archive-date = September 11, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150911152223/http://www.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2012/07/12/craigslist-sues-jameslist-for-obvious-reasons | url-status = live }} forcing the company to rename to JamesEdition.

In 2012, Craigslist sued PadMapper, a site that hoped to improve the user interface for browsing housing ads, and 3Taps, a company that helped PadMapper obtain data from Craigslist, in Craigslist v. 3Taps. This led users to criticize Craigslist for trying to shut down a service that was useful to them.

In 2001, the company started the Craigslist Foundation,{{Cite web|url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/94-3375324|title=Craigslist Foundation - GuideStar Profile|website=www.guidestar.org|language=en|access-date=February 20, 2017|archive-date=February 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221105627/https://www.guidestar.org/profile/94-3375324|url-status=live}} a § 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offered free and low-cost events and online resources to promote community building at all levels. It accepts charitable donations, and rather than directly funding organizations, it produces "face-to-face events and offers online resources to help grassroots organizations get off the ground and contribute real value to the community".

In 2012, the Craigslist Foundation closed, with charity work moving to support charitable funds.{{Cite web |date=13 January 2012 |title=Craigslist Foundation Announces Plans to Close |url=https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/craigslist-foundation-announces-plans-to-close |access-date=March 10, 2022 |archive-date=July 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703221147/https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/craigslist-foundation-announces-plans-to-close |url-status=live }}

• 24 Hours on Craigslist (2005), an American feature-length documentary that captures the people and stories behind a single day's posts on Craigslist
• Due Date shows one of the lead characters, Ethan (Zach Galifianakis), buying marijuana from a dealer through the site.
• The Craigslist Killer (January 3, 2011),{{cite web |url=http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/the-craigslist-killer |title=The Craigslist Killer Movie — Official Site |publisher=MyLifetime.com |access-date=October 21, 2012 |archive-date=February 3, 2011 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20110203003337/http://www.mylifetime.com/movies/the-craigslist-killer |url-status=live }} a Lifetime made-for-TV movie featuring the story of Philip Markoff, who was accused of robbing and/or murdering several prostitutes he met through Craigslist's adult services section.
• Craigslist Joe (August 2012), a documentary featuring a 29-year-old man living for 31 days solely from donations of food, shelter, and transportation throughout the U.S., found via Craigslist{{cite magazine|access-date=February 4, 2013|url=https://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/07/craigslist-joe/|title=Man Lives Off Craigslist for One Crazy Month in Craigslist Joe|magazine=Wired|date=July 3, 2012}}
• Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016), a comedy based on a real Craigslist ad placed by two brothers who wanted dates for their cousin's wedding that went viral in February 2013, which they then turned into a book, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates: And a Thousand Cocktails.{{cite web |url=https://www.gq.com/story/the-real-mike-and-dave-who-needed-wedding-dates |title=Getting Weird with the Real Mike and Dave Who Needed Wedding Dates |author=Maggie Lange |date=July 7, 2016 |work=GQ |access-date=September 9, 2017 |archive-date=June 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627055447/https://www.gq.com/story/the-real-mike-and-dave-who-needed-wedding-dates |url-status=live }}

• The American comedy series Bored to Death revolves around a fictional Jonathan Ames (played by Jason Schwartzman) who posts an ad on Craigslist advertising himself as an unlicensed private detective.{{cite news |last1=Gilbert |first1=Matthew |title='Bored' is delightfully droll |url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2009/09/18/bored_to_death_is_delightfully_droll/ |access-date=1 January 2023 |work=Boston Globe |date=18 September 2009 |archive-date=January 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101201531/http://archive.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2009/09/18/bored_to_death_is_delightfully_droll/ |url-status=live }}
• The premise of the sitcom New Girl centers around a girl (Zooey Deschanel) who looks on Craigslist to find new roommates. She misunderstands one of the listings and ends up moving in with three men when she had intended to find female roommates.{{cite web |last1=Maciak |first1=Phillip |title=Review: New Girl: Season One |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/new-girl-season-one/ |website=Slant Magazine |access-date=1 January 2023 |date=31 October 2011 |archive-date=January 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230101201540/https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/new-girl-season-one/ |url-status=live }}
• The American television mockumentary comedy sitcom Modern Family in the 10th episode of the third season "Express Christmas" mentions Craigslist when Phil Dunphy played by Ty Burrell buys a signed Joe Dimaggio card for his father-in-law Jay played by Ed ONeill.{{cite episode|series=Modern Family |title=Express Christmas |season=3 |number=10 |network=ABC}}

• In November 2007, Ryan J. Davis directed Jeffery Self's solo show My Life on the Craigslist at off-Broadway's New World Stages.{{cite web|access-date=May 8, 2008 |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/111961.html |title=Jeffery Self to Offer My Life on the Craigslist at New World Stages Nov. 1 |work=Playbill |date=October 17, 2007 |author=Hetrick, Adam |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222234437/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/111961.html |archive-date=February 22, 2008 }} The show focuses on a young man's sexual experiences on Craigslist and was so successful that it returned to New York by popular demand in {{Nowrap|February 2008}}.{{cite web|access-date=May 8, 2008|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=24539|title='My Life on the Craigslist' Returns Feb. 15, 22 & 29|publisher=Broadway World|date=January 23, 2008|archive-date=May 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511165546/http://broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=24539|url-status=live}}

• In June 2009, "Weird Al" Yankovic released a song entitled "Craigslist", which parodied the types of ads one might see on the site. The song was a style parody of The Doors and featured Doors member Ray Manzarek on the keyboards.
• In 2006, composer Gabriel Kahane released an album of his satirical art songs for voice and piano, entitled Craigslistlieder, using excerpts from real Craigslist ads as text.{{cite news|last1=Midgette|first1=Anne|title=Gabriel Kahane, a genre bender musician|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/gabriel-kahane-a-genre-bender-musician/2013/03/28/e06db746-96f7-11e2-814b-063623d80a60_story.html?noredirect=on|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=April 30, 2018|archive-date=March 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323195433/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/gabriel-kahane-a-genre-bender-musician/2013/03/28/e06db746-96f7-11e2-814b-063623d80a60_story.html%3Fnoredirect%3Don|url-status=live}}

• Craigslist received attention in the media in 2011 and 2014 when it was reported that convicted murderers had used the platform to lure their victims.{{Cite news|url=http://people.com/crime/craigslist-killers-miranda-and-elytte-barbour-sentenced-to-life-in-prison/|title='Craigslist Killers' Miranda and Elytte Barbour Sentenced to Life in Prison|date=September 18, 2014|work=PEOPLE.com|access-date=September 1, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=September 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902001952/http://people.com/crime/craigslist-killers-miranda-and-elytte-barbour-sentenced-to-life-in-prison/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/04/01/files_tell_more_about_craigslist_killer/?page=2|title=Files tell more about 'Craigslist killer'|work=Boston.com|access-date=September 1, 2017|language=en|archive-date=September 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901220119/http://archive.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/04/01/files_tell_more_about_craigslist_killer/?page=2|url-status=live}}
• The site has been described by Martin Sorrell as "socialistic anarchist".{{Cite news|last=Terazono|first=Emiko|date=June 20, 2006|title=Sorrell warns of e-communities 'threat'|url=https://www.ft.com/content/89c1df20-008c-11db-8078-0000779e2340|access-date=2020-11-20|website=Financial Times|language=en-GB|archive-date=January 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116064912/https://www.ft.com/content/89c1df20-008c-11db-8078-0000779e2340|url-status=live}}

• List of online marketplaces

{{reflist}}

• Gale Directory of Company Histories, [https://web.archive.org/web/20150302201000/http://www.answers.com/topic/craigslist "craigslist" (2007)]
• {{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Lily Hay |date=January 30, 2015 |title=Police Stations Increasingly Offer Safe Haven for Craigslist Transactions |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2015/01/30/police_stations_offer_their_lobbies_as_safe_havens_for_craigslist_transactions.html |work=Slate}}
• {{Cite magazine |last=Wolf |first=Gary |date=August 24, 2009 |title=Why Craigslist Is Such a Mess |url=https://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/magazine/17-09/ff_craigslist |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827093635/https://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/magazine/17-09/ff_craigslist |archive-date=27 August 2009 |magazine=Wired}}

{{Commons category|Craigslist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.craigslist.org/}}
• [http://blog.craigslist.org/ Company blog]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100614184902/http://craigslistfoundation.org/ Craigslist Foundation]

{{Sharing economy}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1995 establishments in California

Category:2004 mergers and acquisitions

Category:American companies established in 1995

Category:Classified advertising websites

Category:Companies based in San Francisco

Category:Internet forums

Category:Internet properties established in 1995

Category:Marketing companies established in 1995

Category:Online marketplaces of the United States

Category:Privately held companies based in California

Category:Retail companies established in 1995