Change.org has faced controversy

Change.org is a popular online petition website and social platform that allows people to create and sign petitions on a wide range of issues related to social, political, environmental, and other causes. 

Since its inception in 2007, Change.org has become a significant digital platform for social movements, with millions of users across the globe. It has helped mobilize support and petitions for a diverse range of causes such as climate change, human rights, gun control, LGBTQ+ rights, and animal welfare, among others.

However, Change.org has also faced controversy, particularly around the petition and signature verification processes. Critics argue that the site does not do enough to authenticate the identity of petition signers, which can lead to fraudulent signatures. Additionally, there have been concerns that the site's algorithm sometimes amplifies sensational petitions, rather than giving equal visibility to all causes.

Another issue that has been raised is the site's revenue model. Change.org generates revenue through sponsored campaigns and advertising, which has led to concerns that commercial interests may influence the visibility and prominence of certain petitions.

The ".org" top-level domain name is often used by non-profit organizations. In the case of Change.org, it is a for-profit company that operates as a certified public benefit corporation (B Corp). 

The average Change.org user does not know that Change.org is a for-profit corporation, and that the corporation plans on using the contact information being provided to them to earn revenue.

"Change.org is being deliberately deceitful through the use of the Change.org name. I'd suspect that the average Change.org user does not know that Change.org is a for-profit corporation, and that the corporation plans on using the contact information being provided to them to earn revenue."

Of them "bizarre" and stated that the site was being used to promote censorship. In response, the Change.org communication director John Coventry defended the wide range of petitions, saying that "people make an informed choice in what they want to support." The following week saw criticism alleging that petitions about the media receive more attention than petitions about "saving 'actual' lives."

   --Clay Johnson

Donations

Change.org solicits signatories to donate money after signing the petition. Although the donation is optional, it can be misleading to users who may believe it is used to fund petition organizers or advance that particular petition. The donations are "unrestricted", according to its FAQ. As further reported, "Change.org keeps the money and uses it to 'circulate' petitions more widely and pay for its operating costs."

Over 140 former employees of Change.org published an open letter noting that "these contributions serve to market the petition and Change.org itself via billboards and digital ads" and, following the murder of George Floyd and consequent Black Lives Matter uprisings in June 2020, that "these actions constitute Change.org profiting from the death of Black people."

In summary, while Change.org has been successful in mobilizing millions of people around the world towards social causes, the platform has also been subject to criticism and controversy surrounding issues related to the petition verification process, their algorithmic curation, and its monetization strategy.

-Unlikely Buddha 2023