Political - Online petitions

When someone mentions the word petition, a lot of people immediately think of someone from the older generation walking round and getting people to sign bits of paper. In the past few years this has all transferred onto the internet and has revolutionised the use of petitions. A lot of the more pressing issues of the younger generation are addressed by setting up a online petition, this way the cause reaches a wider audience a lot quicker. For example if a problem arises in Scotland concerning a particular matter, someone living in London could sign the petition because it is a matter that they hold close. They are also used on social networking sites like Facebook, again a way of reaching a larger audience quicker.

These have helped in the political growth of the internet because it means that the vies of the people can reach who it matters as a direct route using email instead of having to be passed up multiple ranks. It also means that because a larger audience more people are likely to sign up to views it it and therefore it is more likely that something will be done.