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Political engagement is particularly important in times of crisis, and online petitions offer an easy way to support social issues.
Democracy thrives on co-determination, free elections and freedom of expression, which is why conscious participation is crucial.
Online petitions can achieve a great deal, but they also harbor risks such as emotional manipulation, a lack of seriousness, echo chambers and questionable use of data. That is why you should always check who is behind a petition, how realistic the demands are, where the data flows to and what happens after the signature.
We should all actively stand up for democratic values!
In times when there are political and social crises to overcome all over the world, it is more important than ever to get politically involved and there are countless ways to get active. Taking part in online petitions is particularly popular. These offer a quick and easy way for you to make an impact without much effort. For example, you can use them to take action against animal testing, promote climate protection, demand fair wages, prevent the demolition of buildings or create more daycare places. Petitions can also help to stop laws that could endanger our democracy.
What exactly does democracy mean?
Democracy means that the people have the power to have a say in political decisions, either directly or through elected representatives. The most important factors of a democracy are free elections, freedom of expression, equality before the law and respect for human dignity.
Detailed information: https://www.bpb.de/kurz-knapp/lexika/politiklexikon/17321/demokratie/
Strong with media for a strong democracy.
Is online participation good or bad?
Taking part in campaigns such as online petitions strengthens the sense of community and gives you the feeling that you can really make a difference through direct participation: You feel more powerful, more hopeful and even a little bit happier. (1)
As this participation can be organized digitally, it is very popular. The reach of such petitions can be enormous if they are shared by well-known or prominent people and can even spread globally, while the hurdles to participation are low (sometimes the creation of an account).
Balancing quality and quantity
Of course, it depends on what exactly you are campaigning for. If, for example, citizens campaign for laws and bans that restrict fundamental liberal-democratic rights, this is their right - as long as the Basic Law is respected - but it is of course not a good development in terms of democracy. In addition, many people often click too quickly on the Internet and let themselves be guided by emotions without really looking into the issues or the background. As soon as a petition is signed, a check mark is mentally placed behind it, as people consider their contribution to have been made. If you don't take enough time for this, it can also happen that you support petitions that are backed by people, groups or parties that you wouldn't actually support. A petition often has to be submitted quickly, for example to stop a decision or to bring about summary proceedings. It is not always possible to know all the background to a petition, but there are differences between petitions - some are more realistic and have a better chance of success, while others fizzle out and are not relevant enough for politicians and legislators to take notice.
Assess seriousness
Petitions spread quickly and attract a lot of attention to an issue. It's also a kind of marketing to get people excited. That's okay up to a certain point, because the aim is to reach a lot of people. But it is not okay to use political participation only as a marketing tool if the chance of success is low or the demands in the petition fail to solve the problems (such petitions are also known as "smoke and mirrors", which create a lot of smoke and thus obscure the core of a problem).
Observe echo chambers
There is also the danger that people become radicalized by extreme opinions on the internet and accordingly make very radical demands, which they want to achieve by submitting petitions. If you only adopt a certain perspective and are hardly ever confronted with other opinions (this phenomenon is also known as an "echo chamber"), this can lead to you becoming more and more radical in your own views. It is therefore important to remain open to different views when engaging in politics and to treat others with respect.
At a glance: What you should look out for in online petitions
Who started the petition?
Who is behind the call to sign? Are the texts written by yourself or is someone trying to present themselves with third-party content? Caution: If the petition only sounds lurid and offers hardly any information, be careful.
Are those responsible being reached?
Is the request being sent to the right people, or are powers being misjudged, e.g. mayors on EU issues? You should briefly check the background.
What is the relationship between objectivity and outrage?
Does the petition have a clear, achievable goal or just criticism without a solution? Demands should be examined even without specialist knowledge. Caution: Some petitions are only intended to stir up trouble.
Is this still politics or already marketing?
How much advertising for products or donations is there for the petition? Are you asked for newsletters or donations when you sign? Organizations are allowed to introduce themselves and ask for support, but genuine political work should not offer gifts or benefits. The aim of the petition should be clear and offer incentives. So beware of enticing offers of gifts or benefits.
Many signatures = great success?
Of course, the point is to collect lots of signatures: the more, the greater the likelihood of making a difference. Information on the number of signatures already submitted can help you to assess whether it is worth sticking with it, but can also be misleading, as you cannot always be sure that this number is correct. The time frame for how long the petition will run is also a guide: If thousands of signatures are still missing shortly before the deadline, you should at least pause for a moment and consider what the reason for this might be.
Is it just about my data?
On which platform will the petition be advertised? Will only my address and political opinion be stored? What data is collected and when is it deleted? Is unnecessary data collected that has nothing to do with the petition? Are there any hidden trackers that could pass on my information to third parties? To check this, you can use tools such as Webbkoll, which display server locations and cookies. Caution: If there is no information on data protection or the servers are located outside the EU (e.g. in the USA), caution is advised - especially if the policies in these other countries are very restrictive. Petitions that come from the EU must at least comply with European data protection laws, which are stricter than those outside the EU.
What happens after the signing?
What happens after signing? When and how will the petition be handed over to those responsible? Can I be sure that my voice will be heard? Is it possible to see later what has become of the petition? If nothing happens after a short time and no information is forthcoming, this is suspicious. Caution: If it is not explained what will happen after signing, you should be careful.
Help and defend your rights!
Many more people should become active for our democracy! This can be done through demonstrations, by supporting petitions or in other ways. Online activism - sometimes also called click activism - is an easy way to make a big difference. Even a small click can have a big impact.
Other ways to participate in society and therefore in our democracy:
- Voting
- Taking part in demonstrations that promote democracy
- Strengthen media skills
- Take action against hate online
- Build information literacy and uncover disinformation
- Keep your eyes open on social media to notice anti-democratic structures
