

OCD is not an Adjective! Google Must Change.


OCD is not an Adjective! Google Must Change.
The Issue
The authors of this petition, Melissa and Teagan, live with OCD and are committed to sharing accurate information to combat stereotypes about OCD. We are asking Google to do the same by removing an inaccurate and harmful definition from their website. In addition to the formal definition, Google defines OCD as "adj. having a tendency towards excessive orderliness, perfectionism, and great attention to detail." However, OCD is not a quirk or a preference for being "tidy"; it's a serious mental illness that is not limited to perfectionistic tendencies. In fact, OCD is one of the top 10 most debilitating mental illnesses, and roughly 25% of people living with this disorder have attempted suicide in their lifetime (Psychology Today). In a recent documentary by Hear My Story Co. individuals suffering from OCD shared how distressing it can be to live in a cycle of nearly constant obsessions and compulsions. Google is perpetuating a harmful stereotype about OCD that minimizes the lived experience of those with OCD and contributes to ongoing misinformation about this mental health disorder.
1,036
The Issue
The authors of this petition, Melissa and Teagan, live with OCD and are committed to sharing accurate information to combat stereotypes about OCD. We are asking Google to do the same by removing an inaccurate and harmful definition from their website. In addition to the formal definition, Google defines OCD as "adj. having a tendency towards excessive orderliness, perfectionism, and great attention to detail." However, OCD is not a quirk or a preference for being "tidy"; it's a serious mental illness that is not limited to perfectionistic tendencies. In fact, OCD is one of the top 10 most debilitating mental illnesses, and roughly 25% of people living with this disorder have attempted suicide in their lifetime (Psychology Today). In a recent documentary by Hear My Story Co. individuals suffering from OCD shared how distressing it can be to live in a cycle of nearly constant obsessions and compulsions. Google is perpetuating a harmful stereotype about OCD that minimizes the lived experience of those with OCD and contributes to ongoing misinformation about this mental health disorder.
1,036
Supporter Voices
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on February 15, 2022
