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In this informative article, Shani will reveal the truth behind Ecosia, a search engine that claims to plant trees.
ecosia: real or fake?
ecosia: real or fake?
By Shani Grounds
By Shani Grounds
In today’s society, scams are more prevalent than ever. As internet users, we constantly need to pay attention to what we download, what sites we visit, and how third parties access our information in order to avoid fraud, malware, and other suspicious activities. As both an internet user and an advocate for environmental protection, I was excited to hear about Ecosia, a search engine that claims to plant trees. However, at the same time, I was a little skeptical; it seemed too good to be true. In this article, we will be exploring Ecosia’s authenticity.
what is ecosia?
what is ecosia?
Ecosia is a search engine based in Berlin, Germany that claims to use ad revenue to plant trees. As of January of 2022, Ecosia has reportedly planted over 140 million trees. It was launched on December 7, 2009 by Christian Kroll, the founder and CEO of Ecosia. Ecosia claims it is a social business, a “hybrid between a non-profit and full-profit business.” In other words, Ecosia claims it is a for-profit business seeking to use its profits to make a positive impact on the environment. In 2018, Kroll gave the Purpose Foundation stewardship, or responsible overseeing of a business. The legally-binding contract declared that profits cannot be taken out of the company. Ecosia has been a certified B-Corporation since April 2014, which means that the business is “meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.” Ecosia is the first German company to become a B-Corporation.
does ecosia actually plant trees?
does ecosia actually plant trees?
Ecosia’s employees do not actually plant the trees themselves (as surprising as that may be). Instead, Ecosia uses its profits from ad revenue to support organizations that do. Ecosia claims to support over 20 tree-planting projects in 15 different countries all over the world. Eden Reforestation Project, a nonprofit organization that works in developing countries to rebuild natural landscapes that have suffered from deforestation, has listed Ecosia as one of its Ecosystem Partners on its website, meaning that Ecosia has contributed more than $1,000,000 to the organization’s cause. Trees For the Future, a non-profit organization that claims to have planted more than 220,000,000 trees around the world, also lists Ecosia as one of its sponsors. Ecosia has helped Trees For the Future plant more than 1,000,000 trees. There are many other partners that Ecosia has teamed up with to fight deforestation, climate change, wildlife extinction, and other disasters.
Ecosia is transparent about how they use their profits, who their partners are, and the locations of trees being planted. For example, Ecosia has helped plant more than 14,000 trees in the United States by partnering with American Forests. Ecosia’s monthly financial reports are posted regularly on their website.
Ecosia deserves some brownie points for their transparency. However, it is important to note that this information is self-reported.
how does ecosia work?
how does ecosia work?
Every search made is through Bing, Microsoft’s search engine. However, most internet users overwhelmingly prefer Google’s search engine, which means that this search extension may not be tolerable for some. (Fun fact: Bing’s most common search is “Google”.) Each time a user clicks on an ad, revenue is generated. Because Ecosia uses Bing, Ecosia needs to pay a high percentage of its revenue to Microsoft. Ecosia uses 80% of the remaining income to focus on its projects, such as the Burkina Faso project, which works to restore the dry, desertified country in West Africa. Ecosia estimates that one tree is planted around every 45 searches a user makes.
is ecosia safe to use?
is ecosia safe to use?
Pictured: DuckDuckGo
Regarding cybersecurity, Ecosia has a valid SSL certificate, which means that users’ confidential information is encrypted to ensure that their data cannot be accessed by third parties. Also, according to Scam Adviser, Ecosia has a high trust rating and is safe to use.
Regarding privacy, Ecosia claims to collect a small amount of data to display advertisements based on a user’s search query, but this can be toggled in the browser’s settings. Ecosia also claims that they anonymize all searches within a week. However, in terms of privacy, DuckDuckGo is a far better option because they do not collect any personal information at any time. Instead, DuckDuckGo displays private advertisements that are not based on a user’s search history.
Ecosia is safe to use, transparent about their profits, and is reportedly making a positive impact on various ecosystems. Many trustworthy organizations, such as Trees For The Future, have recognized Ecosia as a partner. There is no harm in adding this extension to your browser to try yourself! It is completely free, and you can make a positive difference while you continue to browse the internet. Happy searching!
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