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Box Tops for Education: Difference between revisions

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|ParentCompany=General Mills
|ParentCompany=General Mills
|Type=Subsidiary
|Type=Subsidiary
|Website=https://boxtops4education.com/s/
|Website=https://boxtops4education.com/
}}
}}
'''[[wikipedia:Box Tops for Education|Box Tops for Education]]''' is a school fundraising program founded by General Mills in 1996.<ref name="GMBlog">{{Cite web |date=2019-07-24 |title=Big change for Box Tops |url=https://www.generalmills.com/news/stories/big-change-for-box-tops |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228131439/https://www.generalmills.com/news/stories/big-change-for-box-tops |archive-date=2024-12-28 |access-date=2025-04-21 |work=General Mills}}</ref> In 2019, the program transitioned from cutting the logos from products to digitally scanning receipts, with all previous box tops being made nonredeemable.<ref name="today">{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/parents/there-s-whole-new-way-collect-box-tops-education-t159507|title=There's a whole new way to collect Box Tops for Education|first=Kerry|last=Breen|work=Today|date=2019-07-24|access-date=2025-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521181827/https://www.today.com/parents/there-s-whole-new-way-collect-box-tops-education-t159507|archive-date=2024-05-21|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
'''{{Wplink|Box Tops for Education}}''' is a school fundraising program founded by General Mills in 1996.<ref name="GMBlog">{{Cite web |author= |title=Big change for Box Tops |url=https://www.generalmills.com/news/stories/big-change-for-box-tops |website=[[General Mills]] |date=24 Jul 2019 |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228131439/https://www.generalmills.com/news/stories/big-change-for-box-tops |archive-date=28 Dec 2024}}</ref> In 2019, the program transitioned from cutting the logos from products to digitally scanning receipts, with all previous box tops being made non-redeemable.<ref name="today">{{Cite web |last=Breen |first=Kerry |title=There's a whole new way to collect Box Tops for Education |url=https://www.today.com/parents/there-s-whole-new-way-collect-box-tops-education-t159507 |website=Today |date=24 Jul 2019 |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521181827/https://www.today.com/parents/there-s-whole-new-way-collect-box-tops-education-t159507 |archive-date=21 May 2024}}</ref>


==Consumer-impact summary==
==Consumer-impact summary==
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the company's conduct regarding (if applicable):
{{Ph-C-CIS}}
* User freedom
* User privacy
* Business model
* Market control}}


====Freedom====
*'''Business model:''' When redeeming a digital Box Top, General Mills donates $0.10 per eligible product to schools of the donator's choice. This can cause an increase in the sale of General Mills products if the consumer wishes to indirectly support local schools.
====Privacy====
====Business model====
When redeeming a digital Box Top, General Mills donates $0.10 per eligible product to schools of the donator's choice. This can cause an increase in the sale of General Mills products if the consumer wishes to indirectly support local schools.


==Incidents==
==Incidents==
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===Transition to digital redemption (''2019'')===
===Transition to digital redemption (''2019'')===
{{Main|Box Tops transition to digital redemption}}
{{Main|Box Tops transition to digital redemption}}
[[File:Box Top example 2025.jpg|thumb|right|alt=|Box Tops since July 2019]]
[[File:Box Top example 2025.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Box Tops since July 2019.|Box Tops since July 2019.]]
On July 24, 2019, the program transitioned from cutting the logos from products to digitally scanning receipts in order to "modernize the program for the next generation of participants".<ref name="GMBlog" /> To redeem box tops on eligible products, parents must download the "Box Tops" app on their phone and scan their receipt within 2 weeks of purchase.<ref name="today" /> For many, this can be seen as a privacy concern, as the full receipt must be scanned and sent to servers, which can contain location information, payment method, and other items purchased.<ref name="atlantic">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/04/box-tops-education-struggles-after-switch-app/618532/|title=Box Tops for Education Struggles After Switch to an App|first=Lora|last=Kelley|work=The Atlantic|date=2021-04-16|access-date=2025-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325021815/https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/04/box-tops-education-struggles-after-switch-app/618532/|archive-date=2025-03-25|url-status=live}}</ref> Many also believed the app takes the participation away from kids and find the new process confusing, with school Box Top coordinators seeing a decrease in participation after the app's introduction, primarily with grandparents and workers at local businesses.<ref name="atlantic" />  
On 24 July 2019, the program transitioned from cutting the logos from products to digitally scanning receipts in order to "modernize the program for the next generation of participants".<ref name="GMBlog" /> To redeem box tops on eligible products, parents must download the "Box Tops" app on their phone and scan their receipt within 2 weeks of purchase.<ref name="today" /> For many, this can be seen as a privacy concern since the full receipt must be scanned and sent to servers, which can contain location information, payment method, and other items purchased.<ref name="atlantic">{{Cite web |last=Kelley |first=Lora |title=Box Tops for Education Struggles After Switch to an App |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/04/box-tops-education-struggles-after-switch-app/618532/ |url-access=subscription |website=The Atlantic |date=16 Apr 2021 |access-date=21 Apr 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407180805/https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/04/box-tops-education-struggles-after-switch-app/618532/ |archive-date=7 Apr 2021}}</ref> Many also believed the app takes the participation away from kids, as well as finding the new process confusing. School Box Top coordinators saw a decrease in participation after the app's introduction, primarily with grandparents and workers at local businesses.<ref name="atlantic" />


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/box-tops-for-education/id1150038564 App Store]
*[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/box-tops-for-education/id1150038564 Apple App Store]
*[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.generalmills.btfe&hl=en_US Google Play]
*[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.generalmills.btfe&hl=en_US Google Play]


[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
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