Wikipedia is an online free encyclopedia which is written collaboratively with users all around the globe. The website was launched by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger in 2001 and since then the popularity of the website has skyrocketed to become the most preferred website for any kind of information. It is the most popular reference website in the world. It is owned by the Wikimedia Foundation, which has numerous links and guides for users on all branches of knowledge.
Who writes for Wikipedia?
Wikipedia is home to more than 60 million articles, written in more than 300 languages. Every year more than 300,00 volunteers from people all around the world come and contribute, write, edit, update, debate and fact-check the content to compile and curate the information that is researched and well sourced and is freely accessible to all the users. However, the content must conform to Wikipedia’s policies and guidelines.
How does Wikipedia work?
Wikipedia’s content is created by volunteers who write and edit articles on a wide range of topics. Anybody can write a new article or edit an existing one by clicking on the edit button feature at the top of the page. However, there are certain rules when it comes to editing, Wikipedia asks about sourcing and verifiability of the information so that the editor can be held accountable for their content.
What makes Wikipedia so unique?
The special thing about Wikipedia is that apparently anybody can write and edit imparting their oceans of knowledge to contribute to the world. You must be thinking if anybody can write any content then the long pieces of content written on Wikipedia must be faulty, however, this is not the case, with anybody writing the content the website has a special community of editors that check and review the content round the clock to further making corrections so that it meets the ideal standard of Wikipedia, ensuring the content is most accurate and reliable.
The discussion forums of Wikipedia
A traditionally orthodox encyclopedia cannot grow if not amended with ideas, knowledge, and new discoveries and perspectives. Therefore, with this modern purview of letting people write and edit, the community benefits by updating content with fresh ideas. Users can now talk with each other through talk pages and other discussion forums to coordinate and collaborate with dispute resolution.
Is Wikipedia reliable?
Wikipedia does not consider itself a reliable source of information or citation. This policy of Wikipedia is made to avoid any kind of accusations coming its way from its users. Chances are you might get subjected to misinformation, however, the editors of Wikipedia continually work day in and day out to maintain the authenticity of the information, however, you shouldn’t blindly trust any information until you check the editor’s source of citation and you analyse it to the core before holding the information to be true.
The donation policy of Wikipedia
Wikipedia works as a non-profit organization, generating most of its income from donations given by organizations, companies and its users. The company doesn’t run any kind of ads. About a billion users have unlimited access to free information and therefore it is a huge global community relied upon for any kind of information.
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