Brilliant: Difference between revisions
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'''[[wikipedia:Brilliant_(website)|Brilliant]]''' (also known as '''Brilliant.org''') is a website and app operated by '''Brilliant Worldwide, Inc.''' that provides online courses. | '''[[wikipedia:Brilliant_(website)|Brilliant]]''' (also known as '''Brilliant.org''') is a website and app operated by '''Brilliant Worldwide, Inc.''' that provides online courses. Brilliant is a for-profit corporation supported by venture capitalists. Brilliant is most known for its sponsored segments in [[YouTube]] videos, where the service is often promoted by presenters who are renowned for their evidence-based points of view, for scrutinizing and refuting pseudoscience and scams.<!-- The last edit entirely misses the point of the following image. This entire point of adding this image was to provide evidence of the claim that Brilliant has a “content team” instead of actual teachers and professors. The last edit also removes this claim despite the evidence. I'm not able to create a talk page because the captcha doesn't work, which is why I'm writing a comment directly on the page. --> | ||
<!-- I understand the point of the image but I also don't consider it to be bad for a "content team" member to be doing a science experiment, as this does not prove Brilliant doesn't use scientifically sourced information. The content in the picture is an extremely easy experiment anyone can do. If you have evidence that they don't source information through scientific sources, please post it on the wiki --><!-- What do you think about my updated claim? I think it states a plain and basic fact about Brilliant without overstating it and without saying anything that's opinionated or needs additional evidence. Feel free to move the discussion to the talk page if you're excempt from the captcha that doesn't work. --> | <!-- I understand the point of the image but I also don't consider it to be bad for a "content team" member to be doing a science experiment, as this does not prove Brilliant doesn't use scientifically sourced information. The content in the picture is an extremely easy experiment anyone can do. If you have evidence that they don't source information through scientific sources, please post it on the wiki --><!-- What do you think about my updated claim? I think it states a plain and basic fact about Brilliant without overstating it and without saying anything that's opinionated or needs additional evidence. Feel free to move the discussion to the talk page if you're excempt from the captcha that doesn't work. --> | ||
[[File:Brilliant_content_team.png|thumb|Courses on Brilliant are made by an anonymous “content team”.]] | [[File:Brilliant_content_team.png|thumb|Courses on Brilliant are made by an anonymous “content team”.]] | ||
Brilliant’s courses formatted similarly to a traditional textbook with the addition of various interactive elements, such as multiple choice quiz questions, videos, and interactive graphs and charts. These interactive elements are one of Brilliant's main selling points, as they set the service apart from traditional textbooks. | |||
[[File:Brilliant_slider.png|thumb| | [[File:Brilliant_slider.png|thumb|Example problem from one of Brilliant's mathematics courses. ]] | ||
Brilliant | Brilliant does not promote itself as being suitable to a particular audience studying any particular concept. Courses on Brilliant introduce basic concepts of each subject, however, they lack independent validation or formal accreditation for their effectiveness. | ||
==Terms of use== | ==Terms of use== | ||
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Brilliant automatically renews user subscriptions without explicit permission from the user. As a result, customers who have lost interest in the service and may have forgotten about it may be unexpectedly billed at the start of a new subscription cycle. The annual subscription cycle also implicitly assumes that users want to use the service continuously for a full year, which ignores use-cases where customers may want only to study at specific times of the year.<!-- It may be worth noting that Brilliant now (7-14-25) has a foot note below the subscribe button that clarifies the terms of automatic renewal and states that auto-renew can be disabled from your settings --> | Brilliant automatically renews user subscriptions without explicit permission from the user. As a result, customers who have lost interest in the service and may have forgotten about it may be unexpectedly billed at the start of a new subscription cycle. The annual subscription cycle also implicitly assumes that users want to use the service continuously for a full year, which ignores use-cases where customers may want only to study at specific times of the year.<!-- It may be worth noting that Brilliant now (7-14-25) has a foot note below the subscribe button that clarifies the terms of automatic renewal and states that auto-renew can be disabled from your settings --> | ||
When Brilliant lowers its prices, existing customers are still billed at the original, higher prices on renewal, despite being protected from price increases by the same policy:<blockquote>User's subscription to the Service will continue indefinitely until cancelled by User (via the cancellation mechanisms provided on the Site). After User's initial subscription period, and again after any subsequent subscription period, User's subscription will automatically continue for an additional equivalent period, at the price User agreed to when subscribing.</blockquote>By using the service, the user is automatically opted in for automatic renewal, and there is no option to opt out:<blockquote>User agrees that User's account will be subject to this automatic renewal feature.</blockquote>Since the creation of this article, Brilliant has since updated this section of the Terms and Conditions: <blockquote>User's subscription to the Service will continue indefinitely until cancelled by User (via the cancellation mechanisms provided on the Site). After User's initial subscription period, and again after any subsequent subscription period, User's subscription will automatically continue for an additional equivalent period, at the price User agreed to when subscribing. User agrees that User's account will be subject to this automatic renewal feature. If User does not wish User's account to renew automatically, or if User wants to change or terminate User's subscription, please sign in and go to the Change / Cancel Membership page. If User cancels a subscription, User may use such subscription until the end of then-current subscription term and the subscription will not be renewed thereafter.</blockquote>This section continues to explain methods for canceling the automatic renewal as well as specifying that cancellation requests must be submitted at least one business day before the end of the subscription period <ref name=":0" />. | When Brilliant lowers its prices, existing customers are still billed at the original, higher prices on renewal, despite being protected from price increases by the same policy:<blockquote>User's subscription to the Service will continue indefinitely until cancelled by User (via the cancellation mechanisms provided on the Site). After User's initial subscription period, and again after any subsequent subscription period, User's subscription will automatically continue for an additional equivalent period, at the price User agreed to when subscribing.</blockquote>By using the service, the user is automatically opted in for automatic renewal, and there is no option to opt out:<blockquote>User agrees that User's account will be subject to this automatic renewal feature.</blockquote>Since the creation of this article, Brilliant has since updated this section of the Terms and Conditions: <blockquote>User's subscription to the Service will continue indefinitely until cancelled by User (via the cancellation mechanisms provided on the Site). After User's initial subscription period, and again after any subsequent subscription period, User's subscription will automatically continue for an additional equivalent period, at the price User agreed to when subscribing. User agrees that User's account will be subject to this automatic renewal feature. If User does not wish User's account to renew automatically, or if User wants to change or terminate User's subscription, please sign in and go to the Change / Cancel Membership page. If User cancels a subscription, User may use such subscription until the end of then-current subscription term and the subscription will not be renewed thereafter.</blockquote>This section continues to explain methods for canceling the automatic renewal as well as specifying that cancellation requests must be submitted at least one business day before the end of the subscription period <ref name=":0" />. The subscription itself authorizes Brilliant to periodically charge customers' credit cards for automatic renewal, again including undisclosed additional taxes:<blockquote>By subscribing, User authorizes Brilliant to charge User's credit card, debit card or other payment method at such time and again at the beginning of any subsequent subscription period, including any sales or similar taxes imposed on User's subscription payments.</blockquote>Since this article was started, Brilliant has added a foot note below the "Subscribe Now" button that clarifies that auto-renew is on by default<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Brilliant |date=2025-07-14 |title=Unlock the full Brilliant experience |url=https://brilliant.org/subscribe/ |url-status=live}}</ref>, stating: "*Billed as one payment. Renews annually, cancel anytime. You can turn off auto-renew from your settings". | ||
The subscription itself authorizes Brilliant to periodically charge customers' credit cards for automatic renewal, again including undisclosed additional taxes:<blockquote>By subscribing, User authorizes Brilliant to charge User's credit card, debit card or other payment method at such time and again at the beginning of any subsequent subscription period, including any sales or similar taxes imposed on User's subscription payments.</blockquote>Since this article was started, Brilliant has added a foot note below the "Subscribe Now" button that clarifies that auto-renew is on by default<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Brilliant |date=2025-07-14 |title=Unlock the full Brilliant experience |url=https://brilliant.org/subscribe/ |url-status=live}}</ref> stating "*Billed as one payment. Renews annually, cancel anytime. You can turn off auto-renew from your settings". | |||
===Refunds=== | ===Refunds=== | ||
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===Promotions=== | ===Promotions=== | ||
The seven-day free trial is a [[Click-to-cancel#Free-to-pay|free-to-pay]] scheme: a one-year paid subscription with a seven-day cancellation period:<blockquote>Brilliant may offer promotions, such as free trials, discounts, or other special offers, to users from time to time (collectively, “Promotions”). Promotions may be subject to specific terms, including a defined period during which the Promotion must be redeemed and utilized (each, a “Promotion Period”). Unless otherwise stated, any use of a Promotion will automatically convert into a paid subscription for the Services upon the expiration of the Promotional Period. Users are responsible for canceling their subscription before the end of the Promotional Period to avoid incurring any charges (or, in the case of a discount Promotion, to avoid additional charges). Failure to cancel within the Promotional Period will result in the applicable subscription fee being charged to the payment method provided at the time of sign-up or as updated by User.</blockquote>According to a CNET survey concerning the utilization of subscription services, “A total of 48% of respondents said they had signed up for a free trial of a paid subscription and then forgot to cancel it.”<ref>[https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/subscription-creep-is-real-consumers-are-paying-over-1000-each-year-cnet-survey-finds/ 'Subscription Creep' Is Real. Consumers Are Paying Over $1,000 Each Year, CNET Survey Finds]</ref> | The seven-day free trial is a [[Click-to-cancel#Free-to-pay|free-to-pay]] scheme: a one-year paid subscription with a seven-day cancellation period:<blockquote>Brilliant may offer promotions, such as free trials, discounts, or other special offers, to users from time to time (collectively, “Promotions”). Promotions may be subject to specific terms, including a defined period during which the Promotion must be redeemed and utilized (each, a “Promotion Period”). Unless otherwise stated, any use of a Promotion will automatically convert into a paid subscription for the Services upon the expiration of the Promotional Period. Users are responsible for canceling their subscription before the end of the Promotional Period to avoid incurring any charges (or, in the case of a discount Promotion, to avoid additional charges). Failure to cancel within the Promotional Period will result in the applicable subscription fee being charged to the payment method provided at the time of sign-up or as updated by User.</blockquote>According to a [[wikipedia:CNET|CNET]] survey concerning the utilization of subscription services, “A total of 48% of respondents said they had signed up for a free trial of a paid subscription and then forgot to cancel it.”<ref>[https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/subscription-creep-is-real-consumers-are-paying-over-1000-each-year-cnet-survey-finds/ 'Subscription Creep' Is Real. Consumers Are Paying Over $1,000 Each Year, CNET Survey Finds]</ref> | ||
===Site content=== | ===Site content=== | ||