Brainly: Difference between revisions
Further development, I feel it is ready to have the stub notice removed. |
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}}'''[[wikipedia:Brainly|Brainly]]''' (originally Zadane.pl) is a Polish company and platform founded in 2009 by Michał Borkowski dedicated towards students assisting each other for homework online. In recent years, the platform has come under controversy from its users for various issues, from not honoring canceled plans, to facilitating the usage of AI instead of the platform's community. | }}'''[[wikipedia:Brainly|Brainly]]''' (originally Zadane.pl) is a Polish company and platform founded in 2009 by Michał Borkowski dedicated towards students assisting each other for homework online. In recent years, the platform has come under controversy from its users for various issues, from not honoring canceled plans, to facilitating the usage of AI instead of the platform's community. | ||
According to TOS;DR, their Terms of Service is rated at a D | According to TOS;DR, their Terms of Service is rated at a D, the second worst score a company can get (the best being A)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=TOS;DR rating for Brainly |url=https://tosdr.org/en/service/1007 |access-date=Apr 30, 2025 |website=Terms of Service; Didn't Read}}</ref>. | ||
==Consumer-impact summary== | ==Consumer-impact summary== | ||
====Freedom==== | |||
Accessing content requires creating a free account, and some community-generated answers are additionally paywalled behind a subscription tier. Account deletion has also been reported to also be tedious. | |||
====Privacy==== | |||
Unknown; user-generated content is difficult to request removal. | |||
====Business model==== | |||
Funded via [[advertising overload]] for free users, additionally has "premium-tier" content.<!-- Maybe use? https://vizologi.com/business-strategy-canvas/brainly-business-model-canvas/ --> | |||
====Market control==== | |||
Limited competition; has had some history purchasing competitor websites, such as OpenStudy,<ref>{{Cite news |date=Jun 14, 2016 |title=Brainly Acquires US Social Learning Platform, OpenStudy |url=https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-06-14-brainly-acquires-us-social-learning-platform-openstudy |access-date=Apr 30, 2025 |work=EdSurge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Marketwired |date=Jun 14, 2016 |title=Social Learning Platform OpenStudy Joins the Brainly Community |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/social-learning-platform-openstudy-joins-130000652.html |access-date=Apr 30, 2025 |work=Yahoo Finance}}</ref> and soon after deleting them. | |||
==Incidents== | ==Incidents== | ||
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Editor's note: Needs fixes! | Editor's note: Needs fixes! | ||
In early 2024, Brainly experienced a transition towards favoring AI generated content for the platform,<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Ravaglia |first=Ray |date=Jan 23, 2024 |title=Brainly Evolving From Questions And Answers To AI Learning Companion |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/rayravaglia/2024/01/23/brainly-evolving-from-questions-and-answers-to-ai-learning-companion/ |access-date=Apr 30, 2025 |work=Forbes}}</ref> however earlier in mid-to-late 2023, they integrated an excessive amount of generative AI tools within the site,<ref>https://thejournal.com/articles/2023/09/14/brainly-adds-ai-powered-tools-to-its-platform.aspx?admgarea=pro.development</ref><!-- Temp a basic ref, not in the mood to grab all info from article to make it a proper source atm --> from AI-powered tutors, to encouraging answers to be generated on question pages by AI. A significant portion of the content originally published to the platform has also been used for the purposes of assisting these AI tools.<ref name=":1" /> | In early 2024, Brainly experienced a transition towards favoring AI generated content for the platform,<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Ravaglia |first=Ray |date=Jan 23, 2024 |title=Brainly Evolving From Questions And Answers To AI Learning Companion |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/rayravaglia/2024/01/23/brainly-evolving-from-questions-and-answers-to-ai-learning-companion/ |access-date=Apr 30, 2025 |work=Forbes}}</ref> however earlier in mid-to-late 2023, they integrated an excessive amount of generative AI tools within the site,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thejournal.com/articles/2023/09/14/brainly-adds-ai-powered-tools-to-its-platform.aspx?admgarea=pro.development|title=Brainly Adds AI-Powered Tools to Its Platform|first=Kate|last=Lucariello|date=2023-09-14|work=The Journal|access-date=2025-05-05}}</ref><!-- Temp a basic ref, not in the mood to grab all info from article to make it a proper source atm --> from AI-powered tutors, to encouraging answers to be generated on question pages by AI. A significant portion of the content originally published to the platform has also been used for the purposes of assisting these AI tools.<ref name=":1" /> | ||
===Concerning SEO measures<!-- I would like to note that their SEO measures have gone so far as to also hamper finding data both positive and negative about the company. Searching review platforms and the BBB has been far easier to find any info on the company, which concerns me. -->=== | ===Concerning SEO measures<!-- I would like to note that their SEO measures have gone so far as to also hamper finding data both positive and negative about the company. Searching review platforms and the BBB has been far easier to find any info on the company, which concerns me. -->=== | ||
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===Auto-renewal deceptive billing=== | ===Auto-renewal deceptive billing=== | ||
Reported by consumers on several platforms, including the Better Business Bureau (BBB),<ref>https://www.bbb.org/us/ny/brooklyn/profile/educational-technology/brainlycom-0121-87151719/complaints</ref> Trustpilot,<ref>https://www.trustpilot.com/review/brainly.com?stars=1</ref> and Complaints Board,<ref>https://www.complaintsboard.com/brainly-b136175#filter</ref> Brainly has repeatedly charged users for premium content after they cancelled their subscription.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Emma |date=Mar 8, 2024 |title=A Brief Overview Of Brainly Academic Service |url=https://nocramming.com/tutoring/brainly |access-date=May 5, 2025 |work=NoCramming}}</ref> Notably seen on the BBB, a user had an account charged by Brainly, notably with no refunds despite the account being fraudulently being created with their credentials.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anonymous |date=Jun 14, 2024 |title=BBB Complaint |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ny/brooklyn/profile/educational-technology/brainlycom-0121-87151719/complaints#0121_87151719_21848927 |access-date=May 4, 2025 |website=Better Business Bureau}}</ref> Another user cited difficulties to stop charges to their account as well.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=K. |title=Brainly Review: Poor Customer Service & Technical Difficulties Result in Bad Experience |url=https://www.complaintsboard.com/brainly-b136175#c1531768 |access-date=May 5, 2025 |website=Complaints Board}}</ref> | Reported by consumers on several platforms, including the Better Business Bureau (BBB),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ny/brooklyn/profile/educational-technology/brainlycom-0121-87151719/complaints|title=Brainly.com - BBB Complaints|work=Better Business Bureau|access-date=2025-05-05}}</ref> Trustpilot,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/brainly.com?stars=1|title=Brainly Reviews|work=Trustpilot|access-date=2025-05-05}}</ref> and Complaints Board,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.complaintsboard.com/brainly-b136175#filter|title=Brainly Reviews and Complaints|work=Complaints Board|access-date=2025-05-05}}</ref> Brainly has repeatedly charged users for premium content after they cancelled their subscription.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Emma |date=Mar 8, 2024 |title=A Brief Overview Of Brainly Academic Service |url=https://nocramming.com/tutoring/brainly |access-date=May 5, 2025 |work=NoCramming}}</ref> Notably seen on the BBB, a user had an account charged by Brainly, notably with no refunds despite the account being fraudulently being created with their credentials.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anonymous |date=Jun 14, 2024 |title=BBB Complaint |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/ny/brooklyn/profile/educational-technology/brainlycom-0121-87151719/complaints#0121_87151719_21848927 |access-date=May 4, 2025 |website=Better Business Bureau}}</ref> Another user cited difficulties to stop charges to their account as well.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=K. |title=Brainly Review: Poor Customer Service & Technical Difficulties Result in Bad Experience |url=https://www.complaintsboard.com/brainly-b136175#c1531768 |access-date=May 5, 2025 |website=Complaints Board}}</ref> | ||
Users attempting to use customer service have also reported being locked into speaking with an AI assistant to handle their billing problems.<ref name=":3" /> | Users attempting to use customer service have also reported being locked into speaking with an AI assistant to handle their billing problems.<ref name=":3" /> | ||
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
=== Companies === | ===Companies=== | ||
* [[CourseHero]] | *[[CourseHero]] | ||
* [[Chegg]] | *[[Chegg]] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||