Brainly: Difference between revisions
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{{CompanyCargo | {{Incomplete|Issue 1=Consumer impact summary doesn't need a Freedom, Privacy, Business model, Market control, format. Especially when there isn't enough description material to put there. See https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Consumer_Rights_Wiki:Article_types#Companies|Issue 2=Some incidents can be fit for the Consumer impact summary instead so that we at least have some text there|Issue 3=Probably needs to be cleaned of low verifiability opinions and original research, see wiki policy}}{{CompanyCargo | ||
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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. | ||
==Consumer-impact summary== | ==Consumer-impact summary== | ||
====Freedom==== | ====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. | 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.{{Clarify|why}}{{Citation needed|date=12 Mar 2026}} | ||
====Privacy==== | ====Privacy==== | ||
Unknown; user-generated content is difficult to request removal. | Unknown{{Clarify|how}}; user-generated content is difficult to request removal. | ||
====Business model==== | ====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/ --> | Funded via [[advertising overload]] for free users, additionally has "premium-tier" content.{{Citation needed|date=12 Mar 2026}}<!-- Maybe use? https://vizologi.com/business-strategy-canvas/brainly-business-model-canvas/ --> | ||
====Market control==== | ====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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260124153046/https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-06-14-brainly-acquires-us-social-learning-platform-openstudy |archive-date=2026-01-24 |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. | 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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260124153046/https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-06-14-brainly-acquires-us-social-learning-platform-openstudy |archive-date=2026-01-24 |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. | ||
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This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]]. | This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]]. | ||
===Concerning TOS=== | ===Concerning TOS=== | ||
According to the Terms of Service (TOS) of Brainly,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Brainly TOS |url=https://brainly.com/pages/terms_of_use |access-date=Apr 30, 2025 |website=Brainly}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> any content a user generates for the platform may be sub-licensed out to third parties, and all content generated for the platform has its license preserved even if the consumer's account is deleted, either through an unannounced removal, or the consumer requesting their account to be deleted. Additionally, users are bound under arbitration when it comes to legal disputes against Brainly. | According to the Terms of Service (TOS) of Brainly,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Brainly TOS |url=https://brainly.com/pages/terms_of_use |access-date=Apr 30, 2025 |website=Brainly}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-04-30 |title=Brainly |url=https://tosdr.org/en/service/1007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251018221453/https://tosdr.org/en/service/1007 |archive-date=2025-10-18 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=[[Terms of Service; Didn't Read]]}}</ref> any content a user generates for the platform may be sub-licensed out to third parties, and all content generated for the platform has its license preserved even if the consumer's account is deleted, either through an unannounced removal, or the consumer requesting their account to be deleted. Additionally, users are bound under arbitration when it comes to legal disputes against Brainly. | ||
Users within the EU are treated more fairly in their TOS,<ref name=":0" /> however it is inaccessible to users living outside of the EU for reference. <!-- Hint hint, nudge nudge for our editors living in the EU! --> | Users within the EU are treated more fairly in their TOS,<ref name=":0" /> however it is inaccessible to users living outside of the EU for reference. <!-- Hint hint, nudge nudge for our editors living in the EU! --> | ||
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Editor's note: may delete this section, please discuss in discuss tab! | Editor's note: may delete this section, please discuss in discuss tab! | ||
Brainly has a problematically large amount of web domains that they own,<ref>{{Cite web |last=DomainIQ |title=DomainIQ WhoIs lookup |url=https://www.domainiq.com/domain?brainly.com#/domains |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505081303/https://www.domainiq.com/domain?brainly.com#/domains |archive-date=May 5, 2025 |access-date=May 5, 2025 |website=DomainIQ}}</ref><!-- WhoIs gives us a lowball estimate for how many domains are owned by the platform for the record, and with the death of the standard, it is HELL --> and combined with searching online for assistance with homework questions showing a considerably higher quota of results pointing to the platform, it is difficult for consumers on any of the 3 most popular search engines ([[Google]], [[Bing]], [[Yahoo]]) to evade the platform in search results. This is statistically even higher when questions from online learning platforms such as Edgenuity or Odysseyware are inputted into web searches.{{Citation needed}}<!-- Will try to find reddit posts mentioning this problem, however as using Odysseyware within my Middle school years, and Edgenuity for High School, I can safely state that a large amount of the questions from these platforms will bring users to this site over ones that are significantly better for students to be reading. | Brainly has a problematically large amount of web domains that they own,{{Citation needed|reason=Company articles need NPOV|date=12 Mar 2026}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=DomainIQ |title=DomainIQ WhoIs lookup |url=https://www.domainiq.com/domain?brainly.com#/domains |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250505081303/https://www.domainiq.com/domain?brainly.com#/domains |archive-date=May 5, 2025 |access-date=May 5, 2025 |website=DomainIQ}}</ref><!-- WhoIs gives us a lowball estimate for how many domains are owned by the platform for the record, and with the death of the standard, it is HELL --> and combined with searching online for assistance with homework questions showing a considerably higher quota of results pointing to the platform, it is difficult for consumers on any of the 3 most popular search engines ([[Google]], [[Bing]], [[Yahoo]]) to evade the platform in search results. This is statistically even higher when questions from online learning platforms such as Edgenuity or Odysseyware are inputted into web searches.{{Citation needed}}<!-- Will try to find reddit posts mentioning this problem, however as using Odysseyware within my Middle school years, and Edgenuity for High School, I can safely state that a large amount of the questions from these platforms will bring users to this site over ones that are significantly better for students to be reading. | ||
If you need examples of questions to test, please check the questions tab under my old Brainly account 'J4mesTDG', as I have posted some questions from these platforms to Brainly. --> | If you need examples of questions to test, please check the questions tab under my old Brainly account 'J4mesTDG', as I have posted some questions from these platforms to Brainly. --> | ||
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{{Main|Advertising overload}} | {{Main|Advertising overload}} | ||
[[File:Brainly Advertising Overload Example.png|thumb|237x237px|A screenshot of the notification tab, where Brainly is advertising its extension, and Adobe Creative Cloud]] | [[File:Brainly Advertising Overload Example.png|thumb|237x237px|A screenshot of the notification tab, where Brainly is advertising its extension, and Adobe Creative Cloud]] | ||
Since the start of the 2020s, Brainly has introduced progressively more pervasive advertisements on their platform, from some simple static advertisements initially, to massively obstructive ads that have made using the platform nearly impossible.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schiller |first=W. |title=The most horrible and desperate site I've ever been on |url=https://www.complaintsboard.com/brainly-b136175#c1941947 |access-date=May 5, 2025 |website=Complaints Board}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=L. |first=Jennifer |date=Dec 22, 2020 |title=Terrible! |url=https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/brainly.com#111 |access-date=May 5, 2025 |website=sitejabber.com}}</ref> Some ads are even visible in the notification tab, which forces advertisement notifications to be focused at the top, meaning users are forced to be advertised just to check their notifications. | Since the start of the 2020s, Brainly has introduced progressively more pervasive advertisements on their platform, from some simple static advertisements initially, to massively obstructive ads that have made using the platform nearly impossible.{{Citation needed|date=12 Mar 2026}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schiller |first=W. |title=The most horrible and desperate site I've ever been on |url=https://www.complaintsboard.com/brainly-b136175#c1941947 |access-date=May 5, 2025 |website=Complaints Board}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=L. |first=Jennifer |date=Dec 22, 2020 |title=Terrible! |url=https://www.sitejabber.com/reviews/brainly.com#111 |access-date=May 5, 2025 |website=sitejabber.com}}</ref> Some ads are even visible in the notification tab, which forces advertisement notifications to be focused at the top, meaning users are forced to be advertised just to check their notifications. | ||
Below are some general examples of the platform's advertising overload problems.<gallery> | Below are some general examples of the platform's advertising overload problems.<gallery> | ||
Revision as of 22:55, 12 March 2026
- Consumer impact summary doesn't need a Freedom, Privacy, Business model, Market control, format. Especially when there isn't enough description material to put there. See https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Consumer_Rights_Wiki:Article_types#Companies
- Some incidents can be fit for the Consumer impact summary instead so that we at least have some text there
- Probably needs to be cleaned of low verifiability opinions and original research, see wiki policy
#appeals channel in either Zulip or Discord to request removal.Articles must provide verifiable, credible evidence for their claims and avoid relying on forum posts, personal blogs, or other unverifiable sources. You can help by replacing weak citations with reputable reporting, corporate communications, receipts, repair logs, or independent investigative coverage that demonstrates the systemic relevance required by the Mission statement and Moderator Guidelines.
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 |
| Legal Structure | Private |
| Industry | Education |
| Also known as | |
| Official website | https://brainly.com/ |
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.
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.[why?][citation needed (12 Mar 2026)]
Privacy
Unknown[how?]; user-generated content is difficult to request removal.
Business model
Funded via advertising overload for free users, additionally has "premium-tier" content.[citation needed (12 Mar 2026)]
Market control
Limited competition; has had some history purchasing competitor websites, such as OpenStudy,[1][2] and soon after deleting them.
Incidents
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the Brainly category.
Concerning TOS
According to the Terms of Service (TOS) of Brainly,[3][4] any content a user generates for the platform may be sub-licensed out to third parties, and all content generated for the platform has its license preserved even if the consumer's account is deleted, either through an unannounced removal, or the consumer requesting their account to be deleted. Additionally, users are bound under arbitration when it comes to legal disputes against Brainly.
Users within the EU are treated more fairly in their TOS,[4] however it is inaccessible to users living outside of the EU for reference.
Emphasis on AI generated content over user-generated content (2023/24)
Editor's note: Needs fixes!
In early 2024, Brainly experienced a transition towards favoring AI generated content for the platform,[5] however earlier in mid-to-late 2023, they integrated an excessive amount of generative AI tools within the site,[6] 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.[5]
Concerning SEO measures
Editor's note: may delete this section, please discuss in discuss tab!
Brainly has a problematically large amount of web domains that they own,[citation needed - Company articles need NPOV (12 Mar 2026)][7] and combined with searching online for assistance with homework questions showing a considerably higher quota of results pointing to the platform, it is difficult for consumers on any of the 3 most popular search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo) to evade the platform in search results. This is statistically even higher when questions from online learning platforms such as Edgenuity or Odysseyware are inputted into web searches.[citation needed]
Auto-renewal deceptive billing
Reported by consumers on several platforms, including the Better Business Bureau (BBB),[8] Trustpilot,[9] and Complaints Board,[10] Brainly has repeatedly charged users for premium content after they cancelled their subscription.[11] 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.[12] Another user cited difficulties to stop charges to their account as well.[13]
Users attempting to use customer service have also reported being locked into speaking with an AI assistant to handle their billing problems.[11]
Difficulty to delete one's own published content
On the platform, content published by users is impossible to delete, regardless of whether it was a question or an answer, and this content cannot be modified once published either. Additionally, attempting to remove one's account does not effectively delete this content, as-is mentioned in the TOS.[4][3]
Some reviews have also mentioned difficulties with the platform allowing users to delete their accounts.[14] This problem is additionally inflated due to the only accessible way to contact site staff being the AI assistant.[11]
Access limits
Content that was initially offered to users for free, especially user-generated content, has had its accessibility become questionable. Some content initially published for free has seen it transitioned into content only accessible to premium or "legacy" accounts.[15][16] Additionally, there are harsh limits imposed on "free" users who wish to look up answers, as the platform currently limits accessing content to 1 question per day.[17]
Advertising Overload
- Main article: Advertising overload
Since the start of the 2020s, Brainly has introduced progressively more pervasive advertisements on their platform, from some simple static advertisements initially, to massively obstructive ads that have made using the platform nearly impossible.[citation needed (12 Mar 2026)][18][19] Some ads are even visible in the notification tab, which forces advertisement notifications to be focused at the top, meaning users are forced to be advertised just to check their notifications.
Below are some general examples of the platform's advertising overload problems.
-
A screenshot of a question page as of May 5, 2025 -
A screenshot showing an obstructive advertisement
-
A screenshot showing content blocked behind a premium ad for 'Brainly Plus'
See also
Companies
References
- ↑ "Brainly Acquires US Social Learning Platform, OpenStudy". EdSurge. Jun 14, 2016. Archived from the original on 2026-01-24. Retrieved Apr 30, 2025.
- ↑ Marketwired (Jun 14, 2016). "Social Learning Platform OpenStudy Joins the Brainly Community". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved Apr 30, 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Brainly TOS". Brainly. Retrieved Apr 30, 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Brainly". Terms of Service; Didn't Read. 2025-04-30. Archived from the original on 2025-10-18. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ravaglia, Ray (Jan 23, 2024). "Brainly Evolving From Questions And Answers To AI Learning Companion". Forbes. Retrieved Apr 30, 2025.
- ↑ Lucariello, Kate (2023-09-14). "Brainly Adds AI-Powered Tools to Its Platform". The Journal. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ DomainIQ. "DomainIQ WhoIs lookup". DomainIQ. Archived from the original on May 5, 2025. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ↑ "Brainly.com - BBB Complaints". Better Business Bureau. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ "Brainly Reviews". Trustpilot. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ "Brainly Reviews and Complaints". Complaints Board. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Miller, Emma (Mar 8, 2024). "A Brief Overview Of Brainly Academic Service". NoCramming. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ↑ Anonymous (Jun 14, 2024). "BBB Complaint". Better Business Bureau. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
- ↑ Brown, K. "Brainly Review: Poor Customer Service & Technical Difficulties Result in Bad Experience". Complaints Board. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ↑ Frostism (Apr 4, 2025). "Unable to delete account". Trustpilot. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ↑ U., Anonymous (Oct 16, 2020). "Paying for Education". Sitejabber. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- ↑ One (Jan 14, 2025). "Don't pay for this, it is useless and unhelpful". Trustpilot. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ↑ H., James (Apr 26, 2023). "One answer a day". Sitejabber. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ↑ Schiller, W. "The most horrible and desperate site I've ever been on". Complaints Board. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- ↑ L., Jennifer (Dec 22, 2020). "Terrible!". sitejabber.com. Retrieved May 5, 2025.