User:Daniel Mietchen/Talks/DigitalFossil Berlin 2012/Wikipedia Workshop I/Registering an account

Why register?

 * You don't need an account to edit Wikipedia, so why bother?
 * Creating a user account offers a number of benefits.
 * Registering offers you privacy and security. Registered editors have greater anonymity than those who think they are editing “anonymously” from an IP address.
 * You establish an online identity; this allows you to build a reputation of trust through a history of good editing.
 * It makes it easier to communicate and collaborate, by providing you with user pages where you can draft articles and where people can leave you messages.
 * Logging into an account gives you access to enhanced editing features and customization:
 * You can start new pages
 * You can rename pages
 * You can edit pages that are "semi-protected"
 * You have a watchlist - to help you track the status of articles you are interested in.

How to Register

 * First select a username that is available and unique.
 * Real name or pseudonym? Consider the type of editing you intend to do, and remember that every edit will be publicly associated with your username for eternity.


 * Register only once.
 * The use of more than one account is generally frowned upon (though there are some legitimate uses).
 * Multiple accounts that are used to deceive, misrepresent or disrupt (a practice called sock puppetry) will result in your IP being blocked from editing Wikipedia.


 * Now right click here (and open in a new page/tab) to create an account

Your personal pages

 * You now have access to a range of special pages that are personal to your new account:
 * Special:Preferences: allows you to view and modify your personal settings. See Help:Preferences.
 * Special:MyContributions: links to your contributions page. See Help:User contributions.
 * Special:MyPage: links to your user page.
 * Special:MyTalk: links to your user talk page:


 * Links to these can be found on bar at the top right of every Wikipedia page: