Airbnb backlash: The battle over the new 'sharing economy'

For travelers looking to save some money while also getting to live like a local in the comfort of someone else's home, Airbnb has been a gamechanger.

The website, which lets individuals rent out their downtown condos, beachfront homes and even castles to adventurous tourists, has grown to almost 200 countries around the world. 

Piya talks to New York Magazine's Jessica Pressler about the rise of Airbnb and the growing backlash from critics who accuse the company of promoting illegal activities and jeopardizing people's safety and the availability of affordable housing.

"[Airbnb] has made it so much easier for people to travel, and it's really great when you can get to know people," Pressler says. 

"It's when people take advantage of it that it's a problem." In her article, "The Dumbest Person in Your Building Is Passing Out Keys to Your Front Door!", she writes about safety concerns and issues with overcrowding. 

She also talks about the rise of illegal hotels in cities like New York and San Francisco, which has decimated the availability of affordable housing . "Airbnb came along and it really kind of exacerbated this problem, made it so easy to take advantage of this platform," she says.

Have you ever rented accommodations through Airbnb? What was your experience like?