The Power of Petitions: A Reductive Inquiry

Introduction

Signing petitions has become a common practice in our age of digital activism. Many believe that the mere act of placing one's name on a petition can drive tangible change. However, is this really the case? This article delves into the effectiveness of online petitions, particularly those hosted on platforms like , and whether they genuinely bring about meaningful alterations in society.

Are Online Petitions Just a Marketing Tool?

Signing a petition does only one thing: get your name and contact information on the organization’s mailing list. Many organizations use this information for fundraising purposes. Further, your participation bolsters their marketing strategy as they can position you as a representative of their campaign’s reach. Let's explore the underlying motivations and outcomes of these online petitions.

Limitations of Online Petitions

The primary argument against the efficacy of online petitions is that they do little, if anything, to bring about substantive change. They serve primarily as a “virtue-signalling” mechanism for individuals looking to validate their existence. Beyond that, they sometimes result in the harvesting of valuable personal data for profit and targeted marketing.

Unquestionable Fundraising Strategies

Online petitions often serve as fundraising tools for irrelevant campaigns. This is particularly true for campaigns that are driven by the “woke” ideology, which helps keep people in pseudo-jobs and allows them to feel righteous and continue to engage in virtue signaling. Such campaigns, while potentially raising awareness, do little to address underlying problems unless they result in tangible action.

Examples of Effective Petitions

While it is true that most online petitions fail to achieve much, there are notable exceptions. Below are a few examples of petitions on that have had significant impacts on various industries and organizations:

Boy Scouts and Corporate Funding

In 2015, the Boy Scouts of America faced intense scrutiny for their controversial exclusionary policy against gay scouts and leaders. Major corporate funders, such as ATT, Ernst Young, Intel, UPS, and Verizon, were under pressure to either continue supporting the Scouts or stop funding. Initially, these corporations chose to continue funding the Scouts, but the tide turned as thousands of petition signatures demanded that they stop. By the end of 2015, all but Verizon had ceased to fund the Boy Scouts, and it seems likely that Verizon will follow suit.

Teen Magazines and Photoshop

Teen magazines, such as Seventeen, were criticized for frequently Photoshopping their models to unattainable levels of perfection. In 2012, 14-year-old Julia Bluhm launched a petition on demanding that Seventeen stop this practice. Against expectations, Julia gathered tens of thousands of signatures and met with the magazine’s editor-in-chief. Subsequently, Seventeen announced that it would no longer Photoshop its models, becoming the first mainstream teen magazine to do so.

Rental Car Safety and Legislation

Callie Houck's tragedy in 2004, where her daughters died in a car accident due to a recalled rental car, spurred a petition on The petition aimed to pressure Enterprise Rent-A-Car to stop blocking legislation that would prevent rental companies from distributing recalled vehicles. Over the course of months, Enterprise eventually backed down, changing its stance and supporting the legislation in October 2012.

Pink Slime Ban in School Food

Texas mother Bettina Siegel started a petition on in 2012 asking the USDA to ban pink slime in school food. Initially, Siegel was surprised to gather over 100,000 signatures. However, her petition continued to grow, eventually leading the USDA to offer a pink slime-free option in school food. As a result, the leading U.S. producer of pink slime, Beef Products Inc., closed three of its four plants and laid off 650 people.

Cell Phone Companies and Domestic Violence

In 2012, Cynthia Butterworth’s sister needed to cancel a shared cell phone contract to avoid her abusive husband tracking her calls. However, the cell phone company, Verizon, demanded a 500 fee, which Cynthia couldn't afford. Following a massive petition on , Verizon agreed to change its policies, allowing domestic abuse victims to easily cancel their contracts. Later, another petition was launched, this time targeting Sprint, which also agreed to waive its 200 cancellation fee in domestic violence cases.

Conclusion

While online petitions can sometimes bring about significant changes, it is important to recognize their limitations. They can be powerful tools when backed by public pressure and widespread participation, but they should not be considered a panacea for addressing societal issues. Instead, they should be seen as part of a broader strategy for advocacy, complemented by other forms of activism and direct engagement.