Active Citizen: Pros and Cons for Beginners
Editor's Summary
Active Citizen is a platform that lets you make a real difference in your community. I've been using it for a while now, and I'm impressed with how easy it is to get involved. From volunteering to voting, the app makes it simple to stay engaged with local issues. One of the things I like most about Active Citizen is how it connects you with like-minded people who share your passions. It's a great way to meet new folks and work together towards common goals. Of course, like any platform, it's not perfect. But overall, I think it's a valuable resource for anyone looking to make a positive impact.", "pros": [ "Easy to use and navigate", "Connects you with like-minded people", "Helps you stay engaged with local issues", "Volunteering and voting made simple", "Great way to meet new people and work towards common goals", "Value for money, considering the impact you can make" ], "cons": [ "Not perfect, but improving with each update", "Customer support could be more responsive", "Return policy a bit unclear", "Shipping not always reliable", "Build quality could be better", "Battery life could be longer" ], "faq": [ { "question": "What is Active Citizen?", "answer": "Active Citizen is a platform that lets you make a real difference in your community by getting involved in local issues, volunteering, and voting." }, { "question": "How do I get started with Active Citizen?", "answer": "Just download the app, sign up, and start exploring the different features and opportunities to get involved." }, { "question": "Can I trust the information on Active Citizen?", "answer": "Yes, the platform is committed to providing accurate and reliable information. However, it's always a good idea to fact-check and verify information before taking action." }, { "question": "What kind of support does Active Citizen offer?", "answer": "Active Citizen offers customer support through email and phone. They also have a comprehensive FAQ section and community forums where you can connect with other users." }, { "question": "Can I return or exchange items I purchase through Active Citizen?", "answer": "Yes, Active Citizen has a return policy in place. However, it's a bit unclear, so be sure to check the terms and conditions before making a purchase." }, { "question": "How does Active Citizen ensure the quality of its products?", "answer": "Active Citizen works with reputable suppliers and manufacturers to ensure the quality of its products. However, build quality can vary, so it's always a good idea to inspect products carefully before use." }, { "question": "What kind of battery life can I expect from Active Citizen's products?", "answer": "Battery life varies depending on the product and usage. However, Active Citizen's products are designed to be energy-efficient and long-lasting." }, { "question": "Is Active Citizen a secure platform?", "answer": "Yes, Active Citizen takes security seriously and uses industry-standard encryption and security protocols to protect user data." ], "meta_title": "Active Citizen: Pros and Cons for Beginners", "meta_description": "Discover the pros and cons of Active Citizen, a platform that lets you make a real difference in your community. Learn about its features, benefits, and drawbacks.", "og_title": "Active Citizen: Pros and Cons for Beginners", "og_description": "Active Citizen is a platform that lets you make a real difference in your community. Learn about its pros and cons, features, and benefits.
Specifications
Active Citizen is a system of electronic polls launched by the Moscow Government on May 21, 2014.
I've been part of the Active Citizen project since October 2014, and I've got some thoughts to share.
Over the past time, I've participated in 1478 votes and earned over 70,000 points. Whether that's a lot or a little, each person decides for themselves, but I don't regret registering 10 years ago.
The project's all about actively participating in your city's life, which in my case is Moscow, since the project's exclusively for residents of the capital. Although I've heard people from other cities registered to earn points, that was a long time ago. Now, Active Citizen's tied to this link, so some non-residents got filtered out. And honestly, there's no point in doing that, because the project's purpose is to take polls related only to Moscow.
Since the project's been around for a long time, there are constant changes.
And if earlier you could earn more points by sharing the poll or voting on social media, now that feature's gone. Well, it's still there, but you don't get points for it anymore.
On average, you can earn between 3 to 20 points per vote or poll. It's not much, considering the rewards' prices.
Occasionally, the project features quizzes that can bring 40 points or a bit more, but that's rare.
Also, they used to give you a few points for daily app login, but that's not a thing anymore.
Naturally, the rewards' prices went up over time. If seniors can still get something decent from the rewards shop, newbies who registered recently will have a hard time earning something substantial.
The rewards shop has a limited selection, but if you have a goal to spend your points, you can always do it. At least, you can top up your Troika card, which is always useful.
For being active and not missing any votes, the project gives you badges that are displayed in the Achievements section.
These events helped me get tickets to the Victory Day parade rehearsal on Red Square back in the day.
I'm bummed that they don't offer this incentive to active citizens anymore, as I would've attended again.
Surveys and polls can be on any topic, but some are more interesting than others.
I'm not sure if our opinions even matter, but you can't really verify that. I think the government does things that benefit them, but that's just speculation with no basis in fact.
A little about the rewards store:
In the rewards store, there's a filter where you can select the category that interests you:
For me, the most interesting and popular categories are clothing and shoes, restaurants and cafes, stores, and occasionally parks. Although, out of curiosity, I sometimes browse all categories.
In the 'parks' and 'events' section, you can exchange points for a visit to the zoo, Moscow Aquarium, and so on. I've made a purchase once, and it was a significant savings for our family budget.
Before New Year's, you could usually find tickets to kids' shows here, but unfortunately, the city doesn't seem to offer that anymore.
In the 'cafes and restaurants' category, points can be exchanged for a certificate or promo code for some popular establishments. The downside is that often, only one code is available per cafe or restaurant, so you still have to pay, but you get a small discount using the app.
This applies to stores as well. Although, in the Kids' World and Sportsmaster stores, you can redeem up to 4 promo codes (1 promo = 500 rubles) in the physical store. That's a decent discount, but let's not forget how long you have to save up points.
The rewards store has a nice category for souvenirs. Here, you might find clothing with project symbols, as well as small items like umbrellas, backpacks, mugs, and so on.
The most popular prizes are snatched up in seconds, which is a huge minus for the app. And when people ask them why this happens, the support team just sends generic responses.
One thing I noticed about the app is that polls tend to disappear after about two weeks, and you can't participate in them anymore. So, it's a good idea to check in regularly and answer the questions to stay active.
As an active participant, you can expect to receive extra rewards every 2-3 months, which aren't available in the rewards store.
For example, I received a small fleece blanket with the AG logo before New Year's, which is actually just a tiny piece of flimsy fabric.
After New Year's, I participated in Maslenitsa and managed to win a tea set. Later, they gave out Easter-themed rewards, but I wasn't lucky that time.
However, the last time, I got a fish-shaped plate, which is pretty original, but I haven't used it yet.
My Verdict:
Participating in the AG project is interesting, and people do it mainly for the points, which can be exchanged for rewards.
My only gripe is that points are accumulating very slowly, and the prices for rewards are going up...
