Nextdoor#History

Nirav Tolia, Sarah Leary, Prakash Janakiraman and David Wiesen co-founded Nextdoor in 2008. Tolia had previously helped start Epinions. Early investors included Benchmark Capital, Shasta Ventures, and Rich Barton. The concept and patents that Nextdoor is based on were invented by "FatDoor" CEO Raj Abhyanker{{cite web |last=Havenstein |first=Heather |title=Tech heavyweights launch social network for real neighborhoods |website=Computerworld |date=2007-05-30 |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2541377/tech-heavyweights-launch-social-network-for-real-neighborhoods.html |access-date=2022-01-12 |archive-date=April 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430151804/https://www.computerworld.com/article/2541377/tech-heavyweights-launch-social-network-for-real-neighborhoods.html |url-status=live }} in 2006.{{cite web |title=US20070218900A1 - Map based neighborhood search and community contribution |website=Google Patents |date=2006-11-22 |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US20070218900A1/en?oq=2007-0218900+ |access-date=2022-01-12 |archive-date=April 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429030525/https://patents.google.com/patent/US20070218900A1/en?oq=2007-0218900+ |url-status=live }} Abhyanker pitched Benchmark Capital on Nextdoor in 2007.{{cite web |last=McMahan |first=Ty |title=Web Start-Up Helps Neighbors Meet |website=WSJ |date=2011-11-30 |url=https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204531404577050870334864882.html |access-date=2022-01-12 |archive-date=July 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727015724/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204531404577050870334864882.html |url-status=live }} Nirav Tolia worked at Benchmark Capital as Entrepreneur in Residence at that time.

{{As of|2014|2}}, Nextdoor had 80 to 100 employees.{{cite news |last=Isaac |first=Mike |title=Nextdoor Taps Google Vet Dan Clancy for VP of Engineering Post |url=http://recode.net/2014/02/04/nextdoor-taps-google-vet-dan-clancy-for-vp-of-engineering-post/ |website=Re/code |date=February 4, 2014 |access-date=January 28, 2015 |archive-date=February 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208135135/http://recode.net/2014/02/04/nextdoor-taps-google-vet-dan-clancy-for-vp-of-engineering-post/ |url-status=live }} In July 2012, Nextdoor raised US$18.6 million in venture capital funding.{{cite news |last=Bopper |first=Ben |title=Nextdoor, the social network for neighbors, raises $18.6 million to help Americans stop bowling alone |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/7/24/3177881/nextdoor-private-social-network-for-neighbors-raises-18-6-million |newspaper=The Verge |date=July 24, 2012 |access-date=September 6, 2017 |archive-date=January 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114195939/http://www.theverge.com/2012/7/24/3177881/nextdoor-private-social-network-for-neighbors-raises-18-6-million |url-status=live }} Dan Clancy (formerly of Google) joined Nextdoor in February 2014.{{Cite web |url=http://danclancy.me/2014/02/04/nextdoor-my-next-big-challenge/ |title=Website Dan Clancy, Feb. 2014 |access-date=December 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204101953/http://danclancy.me/2014/02/04/nextdoor-my-next-big-challenge/ |archive-date=February 4, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

On May 14, 2014, Nirav Tolia, then-CEO of Nextdoor, was charged with felony hit-and-run for allegedly fleeing a crash on Highway 101 in Brisbane, California that left a woman injured. "It's ironic that the CEO of a company that is holding itself out as trying to promote neighborliness, crime watch and things like that flees the scene of an accident that he caused and doesn't bother to call 911 or stay around to exchange information or see if he caused any injuries," said the woman's attorney, Joseph Brent.Lee, Henry K (May 14, 2014). [http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Police-friendly-tech-CEO-charged-with-hit-and-run-5478246.php "Police-friendly tech CEO charged with hit-and-run"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927220737/https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Police-friendly-tech-CEO-charged-with-hit-and-run-5478246.php |date=September 27, 2019 }}. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 17, 2014. On June 12, 2014, Tolia pled no contest and served 30 days of community service in lieu of jail time.{{cite news |first=Ellen |last=Huet |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ellenhuet/2014/06/13/nextdoor-ceo-nirav-tolia-pleads-no-contest-to-reduced-charge-in-hit-and-run/#403b75fb4d14 |title=Nextdoor CEO Nirav Tolia Pleads No Contest To Reduced Charge In Hit-And-Run |work=Forbes |date=June 13, 2014 |access-date=March 23, 2020 |archive-date=August 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804170850/https://www.forbes.com/sites/ellenhuet/2014/06/13/nextdoor-ceo-nirav-tolia-pleads-no-contest-to-reduced-charge-in-hit-and-run/#403b75fb4d14 |url-status=live }}

In February 2017, Nextdoor acquired the UK local social network service Streetlife in a "multimillion pound deal". Nextdoor's less stringent privacy and safety policies provoked concerns among some users of Streetlife—for example, full names and street addresses are visible to all members of a Nextdoor, but not Streetlife, neighbourhood—some reporting ensuing harm, such as abusive former partner finding out a woman's current address.{{cite news |first=Rory |last=Cellan-Jones |author-link=Rory Cellan-Jones |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38920906 |title=Streetlife users in Nextdoor privacy row |publisher=BBC News |date=February 9, 2017 |access-date=June 22, 2018 |archive-date=April 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410080627/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38920906 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Tim |title=Streetlife users urged to consider privacy & safety |url=https://www.getsafeonline.org/personal/news-item/streetlife-users-urged-to-consider-privacy-safety/ |website=Get Safe Online |date=17 February 2017 |access-date=December 14, 2021 |archive-date=December 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214133120/https://www.getsafeonline.org/personal/news-item/streetlife-users-urged-to-consider-privacy-safety/ |url-status=live }}

Advertising was added to the platform, including real estate advertising, in 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/08/nextdoor-is-finally-chasing-revenue-two-years-after-its-billion-dollar-valuation.html|title=Billion-dollar neighborhood social network Nextdoor moves against Zillow, Redfin|last=Kolodny|first=Lora|date=August 8, 2017|work=CNBC|access-date=April 12, 2018|archive-date=February 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219005646/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/08/nextdoor-is-finally-chasing-revenue-two-years-after-its-billion-dollar-valuation.html|url-status=live}} Advertising includes posts inside users' feeds about business services and products.

In July 2018, then-CEO co-founder Tolia announced plans to retire as chief executive officer (CEO),{{Cite news|url=https://www.recode.net/2018/7/25/17604454/nextdoor-ceo-nirav-tolia-step-down-neighborhood-social-network|title=The CEO of Nextdoor, Nirav Tolia, will step down|last1=Wagner|first1=Kurt|date=July 25, 2018|work=Recode|access-date=July 27, 2018|publisher=Vox Media|last2=Schleifer|first2=Theodore|archive-date=July 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727021119/https://www.recode.net/2018/7/25/17604454/nextdoor-ceo-nirav-tolia-step-down-neighborhood-social-network|url-status=live}} stating that he intended to become chair of the company's board following the transition. In October 2018, Square's former chief financial officer Sarah Friar became CEO, succeeding Tolia.{{Cite news|url=https://www.recode.net/2018/10/10/17961720/square-cfo-sarah-friar-leaving-nextdoor-ceo|title=Square CFO Sarah Friar is leaving to become the CEO of Nextdoor—which means she won't become the CEO of Square|last=Wagner|first=Kurt|date=October 10, 2018|work=Recode|access-date=October 12, 2018|archive-date=October 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011115311/https://www.recode.net/2018/10/10/17961720/square-cfo-sarah-friar-leaving-nextdoor-ceo|url-status=live}} Tolia subsequently retained his seat as a member of the company board of directors.{{Cite news |url=https://mlsiliconvalley.com/entrepreneur-nirav-tolia-on-nextdoor |title=Nextdoor Co-Founder Nirav Tolia Talks Bringing People Together through Technology |last=Zinco |first=Carolyne |date=October 14, 2019 |work=Silicon Valley |publisher=Modern Luxury |access-date=April 2, 2020 |archive-date=March 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321234556/https://mlsiliconvalley.com/entrepreneur-nirav-tolia-on-nextdoor |url-status=live }}

In 2019, Nextdoor acquired Hoodline, a local news aggregator that is considered Pink-slime Journalism.{{Cite news |title=“AI reporters” are covering the events of the day in Northwest Arkansas |url=https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/08/ai-reporters-are-covering-events-in-northwest-arkansas-for-okaynwa/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250416004947/https://www.niemanlab.org/2024/08/ai-reporters-are-covering-events-in-northwest-arkansas-for-okaynwa/ |archive-date=2025-04-16 |access-date=2025-04-29 |work=Nieman Lab}}{{Cite web| title = Local News Site Hoodline Acquired By Nextdoor| work = Broke-Ass Stuart's Website| access-date = 2020-09-20| url = https://brokeassstuart.com/2020/03/10/local-news-site-hoodline-acquired-by-nextdoor/| archive-date = August 7, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200807042256/https://brokeassstuart.com/2020/03/10/local-news-site-hoodline-acquired-by-nextdoor/| url-status = live}} Later that year, HuffPost and Wired reported that Nextdoor paid a firm to improve its reputation by lobbying for changes to the Wikipedia articles on Nextdoor, NBC, and several other corporations.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wikipedia-paid-editing-pr-facebook-nbc-axios_n_5c63321be4b03de942967225|title=Facebook, Axios And NBC Paid This Guy To Whitewash Wikipedia Pages|author=Feinberg, Ashley|date=March 14, 2019|access-date=May 17, 2019|website=HuffPost|archive-date=April 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408121951/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/wikipedia-paid-editing-pr-facebook-nbc-axios_n_5c63321be4b03de942967225|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/story/want-to-know-how-to-build-a-better-democracy-ask-wikipedia/|title=Want to Know How to Build a Better Democracy? Ask Wikipedia|last1=Cohen|first1=Noam|date=April 7, 2019|magazine=Wired|access-date=May 17, 2019|archive-date=April 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408142225/https://www.wired.com/story/want-to-know-how-to-build-a-better-democracy-ask-wikipedia/|url-status=dead}}

In November 2021, Nextdoor became a publicly traded company.{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/nextdoor-to-complete-move-to-go-public-11636372800|title=NextDoor Surges in Trading Debut|author=Bobrowsky, Meghan|date=November 8, 2021|access-date=March 6, 2021|website=WSJ|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108120607/https://www.wsj.com/articles/nextdoor-to-complete-move-to-go-public-11636372800|url-status=live}}

In February 2024, Sarah Friar stepped down as CEO and Tolia resumed the role. {{Cite press release |title=Nextdoor Announces Leadership Transition and Reports Preliminary Q4 2023 Financial Results |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nextdoor-announces-leadership-transition-reports-110000515.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240417044628/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nextdoor-announces-leadership-transition-reports-110000515.html |archive-date=2024-04-17 |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=Business Wire |via=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US |url-status=live}} In March 2024, Tolia was accused of sexual harassment by a former employee.{{Cite news |title=Former Nextdoor Employee Says CEO Tolia Sexually Harassed Her |last=Weinberg | first=Cory |url=https://www.theinformation.com/articles/former-nextdoor-employee-says-ceo-tolia-sexually-harassed-her |date=March 14, 2024|access-date=2025-01-03 |work=The Information |language=en |url-access=subscription}}

Typical platform uses include neighbors reporting on news and events in their "neighborhood" and members asking each other for local service-provider recommendations.{{cite web |last1=Bogost |first1=Ian |title=What Petty Nextdoor Posts Reveal About America |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/07/nextdoor-american-communities/561746/ |website=The Atlantic |date=June 20, 2018 |access-date=December 30, 2018 |archive-date=December 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230181208/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/07/nextdoor-american-communities/561746/ |url-status=live }} The first "neighborhood" boundaries were initially established with Maponics, a provider of geographical information.{{cite news |last1=Stross |first1=Randall |title=Meet Your Neighbors, if Only Online |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/business/on-nextdoorcom-social-networks-for-neighbors.html |access-date=August 8, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=May 12, 2012 |archive-date=August 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814011351/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/business/on-nextdoorcom-social-networks-for-neighbors.html |url-status=live }} "Founding" members of neighborhoods can also determine the name of the neighborhood and its boundaries, although Nextdoor retains the authority to change either of these.{{cite web |title=How are Nextdoor neighborhoods created? |url=https://help.nextdoor.com/customer/portal/articles/805008-how-are-nextdoor-neighborhoods-created- |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813210601/https://help.nextdoor.com/customer/portal/articles/805008-how-are-nextdoor-neighborhoods-created- |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |access-date=August 13, 2018 |publisher=Nextdoor}} A member must attract a minimum of 10 households to establish a new "neighborhood", as of November 2016.{{cite news|last1=Kalen|first1=Christian|title=Sonoma is a Nextdoor neighborhood|url=http://www.sonomanews.com/news/6367290-181/sonoma-is-a-nextdoor-neighborhood?sba=AAS|access-date=May 11, 2018|publisher=Sonoma Index-Register|date=November 28, 2016|archive-date=August 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814002058/https://www.sonomanews.com/news/6367290-181/sonoma-is-a-nextdoor-neighborhood?sba=AAS|url-status=live}} According to the platform's rules, members whose addresses fall outside the boundaries of existing neighborhoods can establish their own neighborhoods.{{cite news |last1=Lightner |first1=Rob |date=September 21, 2012 |title=Start or join a neighborhood social network with Nextdoor |url=https://www.cnet.com/how-to/start-or-join-a-neighborhood-social-network-with-nextdoor/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813210608/https://www.cnet.com/how-to/start-or-join-a-neighborhood-social-network-with-nextdoor/ |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |access-date=August 9, 2018 |publisher=CNET}}

While allowing for "civil debate", the platform prohibits canvassing for votes on forums. The service does, however allow separate forums just for political discussions. According to The New York Times, these discussions are "separated from [a user's regular] neighborhood feeds". The company had established these separate forums in 12 markets by 2018.

In a 2014 study of three neighborhoods in Atlanta, researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology found that Nextdoor users from the study tended to be highly engaged with their respective neighborhoods outside of their participation on Nextdoor. For these users, Nextdoor provided a means of communication with individuals in a geographic area, instead of the topic-specific focuses of mailing lists, Facebook groups, and Craigslist posts. Study participants described Nextdoor discussions as civil, and stated that the website's address verification requirement increases trust among users while also raising privacy concerns associated with disclosing one's location to the neighborhood.{{cite conference |last1=Masden |first1=Christina A. |last2=Grevet |first2=Catherine |last3=Grinter |first3=Rebecca E. |authorlink3=Rebecca Grinter |last4=Gilbert |first4=Eric |authorlink4=Eric Gilbert |last5=Edwards |first5=W. Keith |title=Tensions in Scaling-up Community Social Media: A Multi-Neighborhood Study of Nextdoor |book-title=CHI '14: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems |conference=Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems |date=2014 |pages=3239–3248 |doi=10.1145/2556288.2557319 |url=https://www.cc.gatech.edu/people/home/keith/pubs/nextdoor-chi2014.pdf |publisher=Association for Computing Machinery |access-date=21 February 2021 |via=Georgia Institute of Technology |archive-date=December 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230181136/https://www.cc.gatech.edu/people/home/keith/pubs/nextdoor-chi2014.pdf |url-status=live }}

Nextdoor has a section called For Sale & Free for users to buy, sell, or give away items. The Marketplace is based on geographic location and no payments take place on the app. Since Nextdoor vets the identity of its users,{{cite web|title=Use your true identity|url=https://help.nextdoor.com/s/article/use-your-true-identity#realnames}} facilitating pickup and payment of items has been considered more secure than platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.{{Cite web |title=Is It Better to Use Nextdoor or Facebook Marketplace? |url=https://lifehacker.com/is-it-better-to-use-nextdoor-or-facebook-marketplace-1848799896 |access-date=2022-04-25 |website=Lifehacker |date=April 18, 2022 |language=en-us |archive-date=April 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425172241/https://lifehacker.com/is-it-better-to-use-nextdoor-or-facebook-marketplace-1848799896 |url-status=live }} In 2021, the network reported that one-fourth of items listed are free stuff.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-04 |title=Nextdoor Free Finds Will Let You Quickly Find Free Stuff In Your Neighborhood |url=https://www.androidheadlines.com/2021/06/nextdoor-free-finds-free-stuff-neighborhood.html |access-date=2022-04-25 |website=Android Headlines |language=en-US |archive-date=April 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425172241/https://www.androidheadlines.com/2021/06/nextdoor-free-finds-free-stuff-neighborhood.html |url-status=live }}

Users can post on Nextdoor about crime and safety in their community.{{Cite web |title=Nextdoor is bringing the neighborhood online |url=https://qz.com/emails/quartz-company/2148908/%e2%9c%a6-there-goes-the-neighborhood/ |access-date=2022-04-25 |website=Quartz |date=March 31, 2022 |language=en |archive-date=April 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425172241/https://qz.com/emails/quartz-company/2148908/%E2%9C%A6-there-goes-the-neighborhood/ |url-status=live }} Starting in 2015, media outlets have reported some Nextdoor users have been racially profiling people of color in neighborhoods across the United States.{{Cite news|url=https://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/racial-profiling-via-nextdoorcom/Content?oid=4526919|title=Racial Profiling Via Nextdoor.com|last=Levin|first=Sam|date=October 7, 2015|work=East Bay Express|access-date=August 16, 2017|archive-date=August 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807234209/https://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/racial-profiling-via-nextdoorcom/Content?oid=4526919|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Medina|first1=Jennifer|date=May 18, 2016|title=Website Meant to Connect Neighbors Hears Complaints of Racial Profiling|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/19/us/website-nextdoor-hears-racial-profiling-complaints.html|access-date=May 23, 2018|work=The New York Times|archive-date=May 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502154947/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/19/us/website-nextdoor-hears-racial-profiling-complaints.html|url-status=live}} In 2016, Nextdoor announced that users would be asked to submit identifying characteristics other than race when posting warnings about individuals or events in the neighborhood.

Law enforcement officials in Oakland, California, who had generally embraced Nextdoor as a means to connect with local residents, were wary of being seen as endorsing or associating with a website that critics argue enables racial profiling. Nextdoor changed its user interface, saying the purpose was to make it harder for users to create race-based posts.{{Cite news|url=https://hbr.org/2018/05/how-nextdoor-addressed-racial-profiling-on-its-platform|title=How Nextdoor Addressed Racial Profiling on Its Platform|date=May 11, 2018|work=Harvard Business Review|access-date=May 11, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140459/https://hbr.org/2018/05/how-nextdoor-addressed-racial-profiling-on-its-platform|url-status=live}} After the change, the Oakland Police Department said the changes made Nextdoor "more helpful" to the police department's work.{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/08/23/490950267/social-network-nextdoor-moves-to-block-racial-profiling-online|title=Social Network Nextdoor Moves To Block Racial Profiling Online|last=Shahani|first=Aarti|date=August 23, 2016|department=All Tech Considered|work=Morning Edition|publisher=National Public Radio|access-date=August 16, 2017|archive-date=August 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815172332/http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/08/23/490950267/social-network-nextdoor-moves-to-block-racial-profiling-online|url-status=live}} Cofounder Tolia claimed in a February 2017 interview with Wired that Nextdoor reduced racial profiling in its crime and safety reports by 75 percent through user interface changes.{{cite news|first1=Jessi|last1=Hempel|access-date=June 12, 2020|title=For Nextdoor, Eliminating Racism Is No Quick Fix|url=https://www.wired.com/2017/02/for-nextdoor-eliminating-racism-is-no-quick-fix/|newspaper=Wired|date=February 16, 2017|issn=1059-1028|archive-date=June 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609131331/https://www.wired.com/2017/02/for-nextdoor-eliminating-racism-is-no-quick-fix/|url-status=live}} A BuzzFeed News investigation indicated that racial profiling of people of color was still prevalent on Nextdoor as of May 2017, and that anti-discrimination measures previously announced by Nextdoor and proposed by Nextdoor's community members were incompletely implemented in Nextdoor's website and apps.{{cite web|access-date=June 11, 2020|title=Racial Profiling Is Still A Problem On Nextdoor|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/carolineodonovan/racial-profiling-is-still-a-problem-on-nextdoor|website=BuzzFeed News|first=Caroline|last=O'Donovan|date=May 18, 2017|archive-date=June 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612063010/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/carolineodonovan/racial-profiling-is-still-a-problem-on-nextdoor|url-status=live}}

The Atlantic discussed further concerns over hyperactive "crime and safety" sections of Seattle's private community pages on Nextdoor. According to The Atlantic, "Seattle Mayor Ed Murray derided an atmosphere of 'paranoid hysteria' he'd witnessed on the message boards of some of Seattle's more upscale neighborhoods." The mayor said on KUOW-FM, the local NPR affiliate, that Seattle's wealthiest areas are some of the most active communities on Nextdoor.{{cite web |title=The Record: Thursday, Feb 25, Full Show |url=https://kuow.org/stories/record-thursday-feb-25-full-show/ |publisher=KUOW/NPR |date=February 25, 2016 |access-date=November 30, 2018 |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130071556/https://kuow.org/stories/record-thursday-feb-25-full-show/ |url-status=live }} "The neighborhoods where most of the social-media complaints are coming out of are not even the neighborhoods that have significant crime problems, which tend to be our communities of color in the south part of the city. If it's simply about creating a sense of paranoia or if it's about stigmatizing folks in our city that are struggling, then I have to think about why we're in that kind of partnership."

The Root described incidents in 2019 in which people of color and one transgender person claimed they were targeted by Nextdoor users with negative comments and "spook alerts" – racially charged accusations of criminal activity – when they were walking in their neighborhoods.{{cite web|access-date=June 11, 2020|title=The Racist Nextdoor|url=https://www.theroot.com/the-racist-nextdoor-1835939264|website=The Root|first=Michael|last=Harriot|date=June 28, 2019|archive-date=June 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609233403/https://www.theroot.com/the-racist-nextdoor-1835939264|url-status=live}}

In June 2020, The Verge reported that "Nextdoor has struggled to shed its reputation as a 'snitch' app, used by white and wealthy users to racially profile their neighbors and report them to the police", an issue that New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez termed the "Karen problem" in a rebuke of Nextdoor on Twitter.{{cite web|first1=Makena|last1=Kelly|access-date=June 9, 2020|title=Inside Nextdoor's "Karen problem"|url=https://www.theverge.com/21283993/nextdoor-app-racism-community-moderation-guidance-protests|date=June 8, 2020|website=The Verge|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608230651/https://www.theverge.com/21283993/nextdoor-app-racism-community-moderation-guidance-protests|url-status=live}} During the George Floyd protests, many members of the National Leads Forum – a community of Nextdoor moderators – criticized Nextdoor's support of the Black Lives Matter movement and expressed a preference for All Lives Matter, a slogan that signifies opposition to BLM.{{cite web|access-date=June 9, 2020|title=Some Nextdoor Moderators Are Furious With The Company's Backing Of Black Lives Matter|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/briannasacks/nextdoor-moderators-angry-black-lives-matter|website=BuzzFeed News|first1=Brianna|last1=Sacks|first2=Ryan|last2=Mac|date=June 5, 2020|archive-date=June 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609062147/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/briannasacks/nextdoor-moderators-angry-black-lives-matter|url-status=live}} A number of Nextdoor users had their accounts suspended or their posts deleted by Nextdoor moderators after commenting in race-related discussions or mentioning BLM during the protests.{{cite web|access-date=June 9, 2020|title=People On Nextdoor Say The Platform Censored Their "Black Lives Matter" Posts|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/briannasacks/nextdoor-says-it-supports-black-lives-matter-but-people-say|website=BuzzFeed News|first1=Brianna|last1=Sacks|first2=Ryan|last2=Mac|date=June 3, 2020|archive-date=June 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609062151/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/briannasacks/nextdoor-says-it-supports-black-lives-matter-but-people-say|url-status=live}} On June 11, Nextdoor explicitly instructed its moderators to allow discussions on the Movement for Black Lives, including BLM.{{cite web|first1=Russell|last1=Brandom|access-date=June 12, 2020|title=Nextdoor tells community leads to allow Black Lives Matter discussions after exposé|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/11/21288286/nextdoor-racism-black-lives-matter-community-leads-moderation-response|date=June 11, 2020|website=The Verge|archive-date=June 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612020214/https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/11/21288286/nextdoor-racism-black-lives-matter-community-leads-moderation-response|url-status=live}} In a blog post, CEO Friar denounced "systemic racism in our nation" and pledged to provide its moderators with "resources and support".{{cite web|first1=Chris|last1=Taylor|access-date=June 12, 2020|title=Nextdoor is next: Why the social network of systemic racism is ripe for change|url=https://mashable.com/article/nextdoor-racism/|website=Mashable|date=June 11, 2020|archive-date=June 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612020221/https://mashable.com/article/nextdoor-racism/|url-status=live}} Subsequently, Nextdoor discontinued its "forward to police" feature, which had, since 2016, let users send posts directly to local law enforcement.{{Citation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/us/nextdoor-forward-to-police-.html |newspaper=The New York Times |title=Nextdoor Removes App's 'Forward to Police' Feature; The change came after many users accused the platform of deleting posts related to Black Lives Matter and not tamping down on racial profiling |first=Allyson |last=Waller |date=June 23, 2020 |access-date=July 7, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709235453/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/us/nextdoor-forward-to-police-.html |url-status=live }} The company said for several months it had been examining the feature as one aspect of its anti-racism efforts.

{{cleanup press release|section|date=March 2021}}

Nextdoor has invited police officers and government officials into its Public Agencies Advisory Council in exchange for a commitment to promote Nextdoor using blog posts and referrals. Members of the council participate in quarterly conference calls with Nextdoor employees and receive at least one trip to the company's headquarters in San Francisco, with all expenses reimbursed by Nextdoor. Nextdoor requires individuals who join the council to sign a non-disclosure agreement that restricts them from disclosing certain types of information about Nextdoor without the company's permission. Representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation expressed concerns about the lack of transparency associated with Nextdoor's use of non-disclosure agreements.{{cite news|first1=Sarah|last1=Holder|access-date=June 9, 2020|title=Nextdoor's Cozy Relationship With Government Officials|url=https://www.citylab.com/equity/2020/05/nextdoor-local-partnerships-police-government-privacy-app/611827/|website=CityLab|date=May 21, 2020|archive-date=June 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609233345/https://www.citylab.com/equity/2020/05/nextdoor-local-partnerships-police-government-privacy-app/611827/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|access-date=June 9, 2020|title=Nextdoor Is Quietly Getting The Cops Involved: Report|url=https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/05/nextdoor-is-quietly-getting-the-cops-involved-report/|date=May 21, 2020|website=Gizmodo Australia|first=Tom|last=McKay|archive-date=June 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609233351/https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/05/nextdoor-is-quietly-getting-the-cops-involved-report/|url-status=live}}

The police department in Seattle had been engaging with people through "town hall meetings" held on the platform, but in 2016 local journalist Erica C. Barnett reported the meeting's possible conflict with Washington's open meeting laws.{{cite news |last1=Waddell |first1=Kaveh |title=The Police Officer 'Nextdoor' |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/05/nextdoor-social-network-police-seattle/481164/ |magazine=The Atlantic |date=May 4, 2016 |access-date=June 13, 2018 |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613111642/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/05/nextdoor-social-network-police-seattle/481164/ |url-status=live }}

Nextdoor partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and American Red Cross to help distribute information related to COVID-19 to local neighborhoods.{{Cite web|title=Local governments embrace Nextdoor as communication tool amid coronavirus|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/local-governments-embrace-nextdoor-as-a-communication-tool-amid-coronavirus-210123730.html|access-date=2021-03-04|website=finance.yahoo.com|date=April 30, 2020 |language=en-US|archive-date=May 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525185603/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/local-governments-embrace-nextdoor-as-a-communication-tool-amid-coronavirus-210123730.html|url-status=live}} Nextdoor also partnered with Walmart to allow users at risk of COVID-19 complications to request shopping assistance during the pandemic.{{Cite web|title=Nextdoor and Walmart partner on a new neighborly assistance program|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/23/nextdoor-and-walmart-partner-on-a-new-neighborly-assistance-program/|access-date=2021-03-04|website=TechCrunch|date=April 23, 2020 |language=en-US|archive-date=January 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122152832/https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/23/nextdoor-and-walmart-partner-on-a-new-neighborly-assistance-program/|url-status=live}} Walmart locations and store hours were placed on a "Help Map" where users could post to offer help to others in their neighborhoods.{{Cite web|last=Tyko|first=Kelly|title=Walmart and Nextdoor team up with new 'Neighbors Helping Neighbors' program amid coronavirus|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/04/23/nextdoor-walmart-launch-coronavirus-program-neighbors-helping-neighbors/3002283001/|access-date=2021-03-04|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US|archive-date=April 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419012442/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/04/23/nextdoor-walmart-launch-coronavirus-program-neighbors-helping-neighbors/3002283001/|url-status=live}} Nextdoor reported an 80% increase in user engagement during March 2020, especially in areas most seriously affected by the virus.{{Cite web|author=Samantha Murphy Kelly|title=Neighborhood social network Nextdoor is both a lifeline and a hub of anxiety|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/18/tech/nextdoor-coronavirus/index.html|access-date=2021-03-04|website=CNN|date=March 18, 2020 |archive-date=February 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206110943/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/18/tech/nextdoor-coronavirus/index.html|url-status=live}}

Since 2018, Nextdoor has partnered with Vote.org to launch an interactive Vote Map during elections that mark local poll locations and allow users to share whether they have voted or plan to vote.{{Cite web|last=Team|first=News 4 & Fox 11 Digital|date=2018-11-05|title=Nextdoor's vote map helps neighbors get out the vote|url=https://mynews4.com/news/local/nextdoors-vote-map-helps-neighbors-get-out-the-vote|access-date=2021-03-04|website=KRNV|archive-date=December 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203031255/https://mynews4.com/news/local/nextdoors-vote-map-helps-neighbors-get-out-the-vote|url-status=live}}

The company exchanges services with government agencies such as the California Secretary of State's office and the District of Columbia Board of Elections. These public agencies collect and present voter-education information, such as voting locations and voter registration deadlines. This is offered as a link in the Nextdoor platform for members in those neighborhoods.{{cite news |last1=Holson |first1=Laura |title=Nextdoor Is Betting a Social Network Can Still Be a Platform for Politics |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/13/technology/nextdoor-elections-politics-nyt.html |access-date=July 31, 2018 |date=July 13, 2018 |archive-date=July 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731040712/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/13/technology/nextdoor-elections-politics-nyt.html |url-status=live }}

The platform reports increased activity during disasters.{{Cite news|url=http://www.khou.com/article/news/local/nextdoor-helps-neighbors-connect-during-harvey/474945033|title=Nextdoor helps neighbors connect during Harvey|work=KHOU|access-date=April 12, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=April 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425065722/http://www.khou.com/article/news/local/nextdoor-helps-neighbors-connect-during-harvey/474945033|url-status=live}} In May 2017, the company offered its services to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to facilitate the delivery of geographically targeted "emergency and disaster preparedness" alerts through the platform.{{Cite news|url=https://efficientgov.com/blog/2017/05/24/nextdoor-fema-emergency-messaging/|title=FEMA Emergency Messaging to Start on Nextdoor App =|date=May 24, 2017|publisher=EfficientGov|access-date=April 11, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=August 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811064128/https://efficientgov.com/blog/2017/05/24/nextdoor-fema-emergency-messaging/|url-status=live}} A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration partnership allows Nextdoor to send out local-community alerts during extreme weather incidents.{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtech.com/gov-experience/nextdoor-and-noaa-partner-to-better-prepare-americans-for-severe-weather.html|title=Nextdoor and NOAA Partner to Better Prepare Americans for Severe Weather|first=Eyragon|last=Eidam|date=11 July 2017|website=gt - government technology|access-date=February 15, 2022|archive-date=February 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215150922/https://www.govtech.com/gov-experience/nextdoor-and-noaa-partner-to-better-prepare-americans-for-severe-weather.html|url-status=live}} A study on the role of social media in disaster recovery following Hurricane Harvey revealed that communities active on Nextdoor were likely to recover at a rate faster than communities that were less active.{{Cite journal|last=Page-Tan|first=Courtney|date=2021-01-01|title=The Role of Social Media in Disaster Recovery Following Hurricane Harvey|journal=Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management|language=en|volume=18|issue=1|pages=93–123|doi=10.1515/jhsem-2018-0054|issn=1547-7355|doi-access=free}}

Since at least 2019, Nextdoor has used addressed advertising mail to attract new users in several of the countries it operates in, using a form letter referencing the local neighborhood and credited to a local resident.{{cite web|url=https://www.wwnytv.com/2019/08/16/website-sends-letters-with-watertown-womans-name-not-her-permission/|title=Website sends letters with Watertown woman's name, but not her permission|first=Katie|last=Benoit|work=WWNYTV.com|date=August 16, 2019|access-date=March 30, 2022|archive-date=February 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219030534/https://www.wwnytv.com/2019/08/16/website-sends-letters-with-watertown-womans-name-not-her-permission/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/local-news/perthnow-western-suburbs/mosman-park-residents-claim-inundated-with-spam-after-signing-up-to-nextdoor-app-c-6007460|title=Mosman Park residents 'inundated with spam' after signing up to Nextdoor app|first=Jake|last=Dietsch|work=PerthNow|date=March 26, 2022|access-date=March 30, 2022|archive-date=March 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331170924/https://www.perthnow.com.au/local-news/perthnow-western-suburbs/mosman-park-residents-claim-inundated-with-spam-after-signing-up-to-nextdoor-app-c-6007460|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://windsor.ctvnews.ca/it-s-very-much-not-a-scam-nextdoor-app-reaching-out-to-potential-users-by-mail-1.5406201|title='It's very much not a scam': Nextdoor app reaching out to potential users by mail|first=Rich|last=Garton|work=CTV News Windsor|date=April 28, 2021|access-date=March 30, 2022|archive-date=March 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317015634/https://windsor.ctvnews.ca/it-s-very-much-not-a-scam-nextdoor-app-reaching-out-to-potential-users-by-mail-1.5406201|url-status=live}} According to Nextdoor, these letters only use the names of residents who have explicitly agreed to send invitations to their neighbors; however, some users claim to have been named in these letters without their permission, or that they thought they were merely clicking a link for more information about the invitations before agreeing to send them.{{cite web|url=https://blog.malwarebytes.com/privacy-2/2019/08/nextdoor-neighborhood-app-sends-letters-on-its-users-behalf/|title=Nextdoor neighborhood app sends letters on its users' behalf|first=Pieter|last=Arntz|work=Malwarebytes Blog|date=August 27, 2019|access-date=March 30, 2022|archive-date=March 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311170038/https://blog.malwarebytes.com/privacy-2/2019/08/nextdoor-neighborhood-app-sends-letters-on-its-users-behalf/|url-status=live}} On occasion, authorities not familiar with the service have issued alerts suggesting the mailings were potentially fraudulent, which Nextdoor has denied.{{cite web|url=https://www.kwch.com/content/news/Nextdoor-letters-not-a-scam-company-explains-558353801.html|title='Nextdoor' letters not a scam, company explains|work=KWCH.com|date=August 26, 2019|access-date=March 30, 2022|archive-date=January 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112214938/https://www.kwch.com/content/news/Nextdoor-letters-not-a-scam-company-explains-558353801.html|url-status=live}}

{{As of|2017|12}} Nextdoor had raised $285 million in financing.{{Cite web|url=http://www.govtech.com/biz/Nextdoor-Raises-75M-Funding-Round-Easily-One-of-Gov-Techs-Largest-Deals-of-the-Year.html|title=Nextdoor Raises $75M Funding Round, Easily One of Gov Tech's Largest Deals of the Year|date=December 12, 2017 |publisher=www.govtech.com|language=en|access-date=April 12, 2018|archive-date=March 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331034048/http://www.govtech.com/biz/Nextdoor-Raises-75M-Funding-Round-Easily-One-of-Gov-Techs-Largest-Deals-of-the-Year.html|url-status=live}} About $75 million in new funding announced that month put its valuation at $1.5 billion.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/12/11/nextdoor-raised-about-75-million-to-connect-neighbors/|title=Nextdoor raised about $75 million to connect neighbors|date=December 12, 2017 |publisher=TechCrunch|language=en-US|access-date=April 12, 2018|archive-date=April 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408030237/https://techcrunch.com/2017/12/11/nextdoor-raised-about-75-million-to-connect-neighbors/|url-status=live}} In a 2017 interview with Fortune, CEO Nirav Tolia had projected "tens of millions" in revenue for 2017, but in 2018 declined to disclose the total revenue for the year as well as whether it is profitable.{{cite web |title=How Nextdoor is using verified location data to quietly build a big ads business |url=https://digiday.com/marketing/nextdoor-ads-verified-homeowners/ |website=Digiday |date=February 8, 2019 |publisher=Digiday Media |access-date=February 8, 2019 |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331130242/https://digiday.com/marketing/nextdoor-ads-verified-homeowners/ |url-status=live }} In May 2019, Nextdoor raised $123 million at a $2.1 billion valuation.{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/05/14/neighborhood-social-network-nextdoor-raises-123-million-at-2-1-billion-valuation/|title=Neighborhood social network Nextdoor raises $123 million at $2.1 billion valuation|date=May 14, 2019|publisher=VentureBeat|language=en-US|access-date=June 17, 2019|archive-date=June 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617212958/https://venturebeat.com/2019/05/14/neighborhood-social-network-nextdoor-raises-123-million-at-2-1-billion-valuation/|url-status=live}}

In July 2021, the company announced it would go public in a reverse merger deal with a special-purpose acquisition company funded by Khosla Ventures that is valued at $4.3 billion.{{Citation |title=Nextdoor to go public in $4.3 billion SPAC merger as CEO looks toward expansion |date=July 6, 2021 |first=Pia |last=Singh |website=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/06/nextdoor-to-go-public-in-4point3-billion-spac-merger-as-ceo-looks-toward-expansion.html |access-date=July 7, 2021 |archive-date=July 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707090552/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/06/nextdoor-to-go-public-in-4point3-billion-spac-merger-as-ceo-looks-toward-expansion.html |url-status=live }}

In November 2023, Nextdoor reported a net loss of $38 million, compared to $35 million in the year-ago period, while also announcing a 25% reduction in its employee base.{{cite web|url=https://investors.nextdoor.com/news/news-details/2023/Nextdoor-Reports-Third-Quarter-2023-Results|title=Nextdoor Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results}}

• Neighbors (app)
• List of social networking services

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|https://nextdoor.com}}

{{finance links

| name = Nextdoor Holdings, Inc.

| symbol = NEXT

| reuters = NEXT.N

| bloomberg = NEXT:US

| sec_cik = 1846069

| yahoo = NEXT

| google = NEXT

}}

{{online social networking}}{{authority control}}

category:2011 establishments in California

category:American social networking websites

category:community websites

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category:special-purpose acquisition companies

category:virtual communities