I hitchhiked a lot in Costa Rica in 2012 when I went there to do sea turtle conservation. But they have a hitchhiking culture there (or at least in the region I was in), so it didn't feel strange or dangerous. Everyone did it.
Picked them up a handful of times, but only under extenuating circumstances: inclement weather, obviously stranded, car breakdown, and the like.
Never hitched myself.
I've done both. Hitched to go see my girlfriend in HS before I had my license. More than a decade later, picked up many hitchhikers while road tripping around Europe. For some reason it felt safer there, more of a normal thing.
I've hitchhiked 3 times but never intentionally. It's always been me hiking on the side of the road when a driver pulls up and offers to drive me to my destination
I picked up a couple of young french tourists once. they were great and grateful and a lot of fun. good experience.
I hitchhiked myself once and halfway to our destination the driver pulled over and asked me for a blowjob. that was not fun or a good experience