#AirBnBWhileBlack hashtag highlights potential racial bias on rental app

Users report racial bias when using app, which comes after Harvard study found 'African-American sounding' names 16% less likely to be accepted as guests

A trending social media hashtag has highlighted experiences of possible racial bias by users of the AirBnB rental app.

Quirtina Crittenden, a 23-year-old business consultant living in Chicago, who is African-American, started the hashtag #AirBnBWhileBlack after noting how often she was declined by hosts when seeking a place to rent - even when the apartments advertised appeared to be available.