FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about how Atlas of Us works and why it exists.
What is Atlas of Us?
Atlas of Us is a platform where people around the world can anonymously rank the issues that matter most to them. By aggregating these priorities across locations, the platform reveals how concerns differ between communities, regions, countries, and the world. The goal is to provide a clearer signal of what people truly believe matters most — not filtered through media cycles or amplified by algorithms.
Why was it created?
In today's information environment it can be difficult to distinguish between what is being talked about and what people actually prioritise. Loud voices and organised interests can shape narratives that appear universal, while the quiet priorities of millions go unseen. Atlas of Us was created to give everyone an equal, anonymous way to be counted.
How does it work?
You select and rank the issues you believe matter most. Each submission contributes to a weighted ranking of priorities that can be explored at multiple geographic levels — global, national, and regional. Over time the platform reveals patterns in how public priorities evolve and differ across places.
Is my vote anonymous?
Yes. Atlas of Us is designed so that participants do not attach their identity to their vote. This helps people express their priorities honestly without social pressure. Only location information (country or region) is used to understand how priorities differ geographically. See exactly what we store in our terms.
Why do you ask for my location?
Location is what makes Atlas of Us more than a simple poll. It allows you to see how priorities differ between countries, between regions within a country, and even between communities. That geographic perspective — seeing that Porters Lake, Nova Scotia and central Tokyo may rank the same issue very differently — is at the heart of what the platform reveals.
Can I add a new issue that isn't on the list?
Yes. If you feel something important is missing you can introduce a new issue. If others begin selecting the same issue it rises in the dataset naturally. This allows emerging concerns to surface organically rather than being limited to a fixed list defined by someone else. Custom issues go through a brief review before appearing in public results — this is to prevent the platform from being used to spread hateful or inciteful content, not to filter out legitimate or uncomfortable perspectives.
Can I submit a view on a specific world event or conflict?
Atlas of Us is currently built around priorities — what you believe the world should act on — rather than positions or beliefs about specific events. But the line between the two is often thinner than it appears. If you hold a strong view about something happening in the world, ask yourself what outcome you want to see. That outcome is your priority. "The conflict in Gaza must end" is a priority. "Civilian deaths in Ukraine must stop" is a priority. You do not need to justify your position or convince anyone — only express what you want the world to address. A dedicated feature for more specific belief and position questions is something we plan to explore in a future version of the platform.
What happens if someone submits something hateful or violent?
Custom submissions are stored and reviewed before they appear publicly. Content that calls for violence against specific individuals, promotes hatred toward groups, or crosses clear lines of harm is rejected and never shown in results. That said, uncomfortable or politically charged opinions are not automatically excluded — the goal is to reflect the world honestly, not sanitise it. Where submissions are inflammatory in phrasing but represent a legitimate priority, we may suggest a more neutral label before surfacing them. The platform is not the judge of what is true, but it does take responsibility for not amplifying incitement. Read the full details in our terms.
Is Atlas of Us trying to influence opinions?
No. Atlas of Us does not tell people what they should believe or promote specific ideas. The platform aggregates the priorities people express and makes the results visible to everyone. Its purpose is to reveal patterns of concern, not to shape them.
Can I submit more than once?
Right now the platform is in its early stages and does not prevent someone from submitting more than once. We are completely transparent about this. Our long-term commitment is to move toward a verified one-person-one-voice system. See our integrity commitment below for more on that, or read how this affects how results should be interpreted.
What is the "one person, one voice" goal?
Ensuring that every person has exactly one verified voice — and that automated or duplicate submissions are not counted — has been a core principle of this project from the start. Solving it properly at global scale is a hard problem that likely involves proof-of-personhood technology. We are committed to building toward it and will always be honest about where we are on that journey.
Who can use Atlas of Us?
Anyone. The platform is open to participants from anywhere in the world. No account is required to vote or to explore the results.
Who can see the results?
Everyone. Aggregated results are public and visible to anyone — citizens, journalists, researchers, and policymakers alike. Anyone can explore the priorities being expressed and draw their own conclusions.
What is the long-term goal?
To create a continuously evolving map of human priorities — a dataset that reveals how concerns differ across cultures, regions, and time. Not a map of borders or economies, but of what people believe matters. A map that changes as societies change and helps us see ourselves more clearly. The current platform focuses on priorities: what people want the world to address. A future version will also explore beliefs and positions on specific issues — allowing people to express not just what matters, but where they stand.
Our commitment to integrity
We want to be honest: Atlas of Us is an early-stage project, and verified one-person-one-voice is a goal we are working toward — not something we have fully solved yet.
Read our full integrity statement →