How Online Petitions Work
What exactly does signing an online petition do?
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Over this past summer, more light has been shed on the systemic injustices that plague our society, and much importance has been put on taking action against said abuses. Many cite signing petitions online as a way to get involved and raise awareness about a cause. But how exactly do online petitions work, and to what extent does signing them have on the problem being addressed?
Essentially anyone can create an online petition. Usually, the only things required to make a petition are an email and a cause. Multiple websites can help one launch a petition, but many employ the page “change.org,” which over 200 million people across the world use as a platform to bring attention to local and national problems. After a petition is formed, people can sign and share it with others. Putting your name on a petition connects you to the organization associated with it. Now that these groups have your information, you can receive updates on events supporting that cause.
Usually when there are decidedly enough signatures, the subject of the petition, or the one it is being addressed to, will be sent it. From there, the recipient can choose to either take or not take action. Whether or not the recipient acts to create change depends on who their role in the community, how connected they are to the cause, and how many people have signed the petition.
Many say that petitions alone are not what cause change, but what accompanies the petitions are what really make a difference. Petitions are part of a bigger array of movements that bring change. These movements include protests, rallies, phone calls, emails, and other ways of reaching out to the community, which those who create petitions are often involved with.
Donations really help these organizations as well. Opportunities to donate are usually a part of the petition-signing process. A lot of online petitions also offer ways to share a petition, whether that be through text or social media. It is difficult to measure the effect petitions have on a cause, and while it would be wrong to state that signing a petition is what brings about change, it would also be inaccurate stating that petitions do not have any impact.
Signing and sharing petitions can raise awareness for issues and educate more people. It is important to sign a petition not because you feel pressured to, but because you understand the issue and want to help make a change. Some people are not able to get involved with other forms of activism like attending protests in person or donating money, but signing petitions is something virtually everyone is able to do that can help make a difference.
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Over this past summer, more light has been shed on the systemic injustices that plague our society, and much importance has been put on taking action against said abuses. Many cite signing petitions online as a way to get involved and raise awareness about a cause. But how exactly do online petitions work, and to what extent does signing them have on the problem being addressed?
Essentially anyone can create an online petition. Usually, the only things required to make a petition are an email and a cause. Multiple websites can help one launch a petition, but many employ the page “change.org,” which over 200 million people across the world use as a platform to bring attention to local and national problems. After a petition is formed, people can sign and share it with others. Putting your name on a petition connects you to the organization associated with it. Now that these groups have your information, you can receive updates on events supporting that cause.
Usually when there are decidedly enough signatures, the subject of the petition, or the one it is being addressed to, will be sent it. From there, the recipient can choose to either take or not take action. Whether or not the recipient acts to create change depends on who their role in the community, how connected they are to the cause, and how many people have signed the petition.
Many say that petitions alone are not what cause change, but what accompanies the petitions are what really make a difference. Petitions are part of a bigger array of movements that bring change. These movements include protests, rallies, phone calls, emails, and other ways of reaching out to the community, which those who create petitions are often involved with.
Donations really help these organizations as well. Opportunities to donate are usually a part of the petition-signing process. A lot of online petitions also offer ways to share a petition, whether that be through text or social media. It is difficult to measure the effect petitions have on a cause, and while it would be wrong to state that signing a petition is what brings about change, it would also be inaccurate stating that petitions do not have any impact.
Signing and sharing petitions can raise awareness for issues and educate more people. It is important to sign a petition not because you feel pressured to, but because you understand the issue and want to help make a change. Some people are not able to get involved with other forms of activism like attending protests in person or donating money, but signing petitions is something virtually everyone is able to do that can help make a difference.
B-Line
B-Line students write articles that capture what it means to be part of the Barstow community, and record, review and analyze current events.
B-Line's origins date back to 1897, when students published "The School Paper," from Barstow's Quality Hill campus. It was published under various names in following decades, including "The Cornpatch," when Barstow moved to State Line in 1961. Today, B-Line is primarily a digital publication.
B-Line's origins date back to 1897, when students published "The School Paper," from Barstow's Quality Hill campus. It was published under various names in following decades, including "The Cornpatch," when Barstow moved to State Line in 1961. Today, B-Line is primarily a digital publication.
“Success in any line of work demands one know how to communicate with others concisely and persuasively.”
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Editors & Writers
Avani Lakkireddy
Quinn Luce
Vineeth Mothe
Charlotte Park
Amrit Siam
Finnian Waldron
