[ShredKazoo]

I think the explanation is the same as for hitchhiking:

https://freakonomics.com/podcast/where-have-all-the-hitchhik...

It's a multi-step process:

1. Society has some kind of neutral/positive norm like hitchhiking or friendly chats with strangers

2. There are a few high-profile incidents of people abusing this norm. Fearmongering news stories, hurt/anxious people staying inside and venting on the internet, etc.

3. The message goes out: "Responsible people avoid [norm] for the sake of safety"

4. After the message goes out, people respond differently depending on how concerned they are with being prosocial. The people concerned with being prosocial tend to abide by the message and avoid the norm. The people less concerned with being prosocial tend to ignore the warning.

5. The norm is now a little bit riskier, because the people who engage in it are now disproportionately antisocial. This causes the per-capita rate of abuse to rise. Return to step 2.

[drewcoo]

> 5. The norm is now a little bit riskier, because the people who engage in it are now disproportionately antisocial.

Which is odd, really, considering it's literally ride-SHARING. It's far more social to hop in someone's car than to stand alone on the roadside.

[red-iron-pine]

Sure but its ride sharing with random strangers.

Uber says the person's name, has their phone number, their car with make & model, license plate number, etc. If something happens there is a way to track down who / what / where / when.

Plus the riders also have a score. You know each other, sort of. Just like the drivers there is an account, a name, a phone number.

With hitching neither side has any idea what they're getting. Probably alright, probably not too weird -- but you have no way of knowing.