Wikipedia under transformation

Posted on | November 12, 2009 | No Comments

One of the most popular websites globally, Wikipedia, is going through transformation. Originally the virtual encyclopaedia has been nearly 100% open for everyone’s contributions and modifications, leaving a few articles closed from modifications due to their sensitive content. In the English site editing of articles will now become more structured: every article concerning living people will be checked before publishing.

In Germany this new practice has existed for a year. In Finland the need for such extra control has not been acknowledged, but hundreds of volunteers monitor the Finnish articles already. Vandalism is spotted and corrected in a matter of seconds.

According to Ed Chi, a researcher in Palo Alto-centre has discovered a certain type of elitism as a new trend in Wikipedia. Regular writers of Wikipedia often seem to delete or modify the articles of more occasional writers.

Wikipedia’s information officer Jay Walsh asks an important question: Is accuracy more important than 100% openness? Wikipedia considers their responsibility very important. “The stupidity of an individual can ruin the wisdom of the masses”.

Source: Helsingin Sanomat 29.8.2009 “Wikipedia saa suitset (only in Finnish)”.

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