5 Calls
 Logo of 5 Calls | |
| Available in | English |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Area served | United States |
| URL | 5calls |
| Commercial | No |
| Current status | Active |
5 Calls is an American website and app that helps users call their Congressional representatives and provides scripts for them to use for calls. The website was founded in 2017 and experienced a large increase in popularity during the second presidency of Donald Trump.[1] The provided scripts support progressive positions.[2]
History
[edit]The website was created in early 2017 by Nick O'Neill and his wife Rebecca Kaufman,[1] as well as other volunteers. O'Neill and Kaufman got the idea to create the site shortly after the 2016 United States presidential election.[3] It became highly popular during Donald Trump's second administration; during one week in February 2025, about 700,000 calls were made using 5 Calls, and it was one of the most downloaded iPhone apps on certain days after Trump's inauguration.[1] Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also encouraged people to use the app. Smaller popularity boosts, including an uptick during the Gaza war, have occurred.[1]
Overview
[edit]Users select an issue, and the site gives them a script to use in a call, as well as background information.[4][1] The website provides users with the phone numbers of their Representatives and Senators, as well as other information about them, using the ZIP Codes of users in order to determine who their Representatives and Senators are.[5] It also asks users if the call was answered, if they left a voicemail, or if they did not make the call, in order to keep data about the impact of the site.[4][3]
The scripts are one-minute long, and the site makes lists of calls that users can make weekly. The scripts provided differ depending on the ZIP Code of the user.[5]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Ovide, Shira (February 11, 2025). "This app is turbocharging calls to Congress about Trump's policies". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 11, 2025. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
- ^ "About us". 5 Calls. Archived from the original on June 13, 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ a b Perez, Sarah (January 25, 2017). "5 Calls debuts what may be the easiest way to call your reps yet". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on January 25, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
- ^ a b Macon, Alexandra (February 2, 2017). "Scared to Call Your Senator? A New Website Makes It Easier Than Ever". Vogue. Archived from the original on May 23, 2025. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ a b Dockray, Heather (January 26, 2017). "'5 Calls' site makes calling representatives easy for people who hate talking on the phone". Mashable. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2025.