User:Dominique.visperas/Report

Wikipedia is one of the prime resources that people obtain information from. As a platform built off of a vast, diverse group of contributors, it’s become a site that people turn to for information on a variety of topics. In my experience, looking through Wikipedia for information feels like a casual ordeal. Since information is contributed by unknown sources with unknown expertise, it’s easy to brush off Wikipedia as an illegitimate resource. Some obstacles make it difficult for people to contribute, though, especially people who are just starting to contribute.

I struggled when choosing my topic, and ultimately decided on an article that was difficult to contribute to due to its density. While it was helpful to have all the stubs present and organized, the sheer amount of topics felt overwhelming. A common problem among platform newcomers is that they're immediately exposed to copious content. Initially, navigating Wikipedia was daunting. I got scared about putting out the wrong information or formatting my work incorrectly. I relied heavily on the class tutorials and often returned to them. While inevitable for a platform as extensive as Wikipedia, it can deter newer users.

My solution involves increasing resources for contributors. Wikipedia has a help center and a feature where they suggest articles people can edit. However, I struggled a lot with the fear of contributing as I always worried that I'd put in something wrong and get socially ousted by it. We see something similar with the Eternal September case study. The case dealt with internet communities dealing with a constant influx of new people and how they minimized crowds. They used intimidation methods to drive newcomers out when they made mistakes. Since Wikipedia consistently gets new contributors, eradicating the notion of intimidation can help it maintain its audience. One way of doing this is by offering accessible assistance. My solution includes making tutorials or general Wikipedia guidance more obtainable to the public. WikiEdu is primarily available on an academic basis as it’s meant for students. While it doesn’t need to be as structural as WikiEdu, having stuff available for everyone could help newcomers make fewer mistakes and make better additions to the site. Additionally, while the mentor program is insightful, people might not want to ask for help and will make mistakes rather than seek guidance. Having something readily accessible, whether it’s YouTube videos or other tutorials on how to work and edit on Wikipedia, could help newcomers better acclimate and feel prompted to stay. Guidance from the get-go can instill a sense of normative commitment and responsibility, especially since it can eradicate the anxiety and fear of punishment when making mistakes.

Another issue I dealt with was editing and writing my article. I chose Seventeen because they’re a music artist I like and know a lot about. However, being new to Wikipedia, I would have appreciated the guidance on what people want to add or revise, but despite being a page for a well-known music artist, the talk page was empty. If I hadn’t come in with my own ideas, I wouldn’t have known where to start. It felt daunting putting in my revisions as I was anxious about how people would perceive my work. The lack of guidance and community among people who want to revise articles can deter others, especially if they are new to Wikipedia. In the textbook Building Successful Online Communities: Evidence-Based Social Design, authors Robert Kraut and Paul Resnick discuss how a lack of presence of others can make participating less attractive. Because of this, contributors may seek out more well-known articles or places where many people congregate. While their assistance is useful, it can lead to disproportionate contributions amongst articles. It aligns with Kraut and Resnik's discussion about communities struggling to gain critical mass. There might not be enough members present to provide the interactions and connections that others want (Kraut & Resnik, 2012). It can deter new users. My solution is to assign volunteers to initiate and moderate conversation on talk pages for dense articles that don’t currently contain a lot of discussion. This could facilitate more collaboration among contributors and incite newcomers to share their ideas in the space.

The main thing I struggled with when writing was connecting with others and obtaining help, as I always doubted if I was writing the correct things for my article. I don’t think I would’ve contributed because of how isolating it can be without the assistance and guidance that the class provided. Wikipedia's formatting, technicalities, and regulations can make contributing daunting on top of the knowledge that people will immediately revise parts of your writing if it’s inaccurate. Having people willing to help, not just new users but other contributors, can ease the anxiety and improve future contributions to the page. It gives users someone to help and assist them, especially if this person is knowledgeable about the topic, as they can decide on ideas and additions together. It helps further instill ties to Wikipedia through connection with others and incites people to contribute more. It can tie into commitment as others connect and develop a desire to stay on the platform.

Overall, it was insightful to contribute to Wikipedia, especially because I was interested in the topic. Content and addition-wise, I think I did well expanding. I've never contributed to an online community to this extent, and starting on Wikipedia felt difficult to do so. While others will probably change or alter my work, it's rewarding knowing I contributed to the page, especially after I did the research and put my portions in. This being said, I think the experience would’ve differed immensely if I didn’t have resources such as WikiEdu, my classmates, and my professor present to assist me. If it had been just me working on the project, I would’ve struggled with acclimating to Wikipedia and getting familiar with the platform, which could be a deterrent in the long run. While Wikipedia is primarily a learning and informational platform, establishing a stronger community amongst its users can help break the ice for newcomers and allow better contributions. Whether it’s having tutorials ready or people present and willing to help, expanding and making resources more available can help lessen the anxiety around contributing, making mistakes, and facing consequences because of it. This can help people feel more comfortable with contributions and can increase the chances of longevity on the platform.