User:Maddiedufault/Report

Wikipedia is the encyclopedia of the 21st century. It has the potential to be one of the most useful and successful online communities to ever exist. This year, I have had the opportunity to work with the site as both a collaborator and viewer for the very first time. This came as a shock to me, being a student graduating from college this Spring, that I have not come across the capabilities of the platform before. As I began to understand the positive the community brings, I simultaneously picked up on some changes I feel would add great value to the website moving forward.

The beauty of Wikipedia is how anyone and everyone can add content to the website. With this comes some drawbacks. There is a lack of diversity within Wikipedians and the content created. Wikipedia should create an outreach platform targeting underrepresented groups to diversify its contributor base. Through workshops, mentorship programs, and collaboration with diversity-focused organizations, the platform should aim to encourage participation from women, minorities, and individuals from developing countries. By providing support and resources tailored to the needs of these communities, Wikipedia should strive to create a more inclusive environment where all voices are welcomed and valued. Within these programs, they could collaborate with companies and various non-profits to set up a system where the members of the groups can be taught how to create and edit wikipedia pages. This would value the website in many ways. It would create a wider range of content for all users, allow other content to be viewed and edited by people who would have not had access to the page before, and it would also empower the new users of the site for the contributions they have the potential to make. Capitalizing on the extensive reach of the website, the quality of content would increase.

In addition to collaborating with companies and nonprofits, Wikipedia should work on initiatives to raise awareness about its capabilities among the general public. Partnering with educational institutions, such as schools and universities, could provide a valuable opportunity to integrate Wikipedia editing into curricula, empowering students to become proficient contributors. If every high school junior was given the tools to navigate and create content within Wikipedia, they would be able to contribute to the site for the rest of their lives. As they learn about new topics or find passion in various subjects, they could ensure Wikipedia reflects the knowledge they accumulate effectively.

Within the proposed system of educating more of the population on Wikipedia tools, there are many potential benefits to implementing a badge system to recognize and reward users who consistently contribute valuable content. This could incentivize active participation and foster a sense of community. By promoting these initiatives, Wikipedia can not only enhance its content but also cultivate a culture of knowledge-sharing and collaboration that benefits society as a whole. Additionally, those who earn a badge could share their acknowledgements with others via LinkedIn, resumes, and more. This would create a reciprocal relationship that benefits both Wikipedia and wikipedians.

When entering the wikipedia site, you are immediately brought back to an essence of the beginning of the internet; a page with an extensive amount of text, most of it being unexplained, lacking aesthetic. Especially compared to the modern look and ease of use of most other online websites, the initial look of Wikipedia may keep users from further exploring the site beyond initially using it for a desired definition. If Wikipedia were to update its page, it would guide its users to the features and benefits of the site’s capabilities. For example, when entering the page, there could be tabs with brief explanations of the talk page, edit options, and other aspects of the website that the majority of the public does not know about. Additionally, there should be a more clean cut look of the page. Today, you can even create your own website with sleek looking tabs and multiple pages with various capabilities that do not overwhelm the website's visitors. This extrinsic change of the website creators would create many intrinsic benefits for the users. It would allow the users to move around the site more seamlessly. The change of increased ease would also guide people who are on the website to interact with the page. They may be lead to add and edit Wikipedia articles which would create extrinsic benefits.

The Marx model of anonymity defines the categories of information people are asked to divulge when interacting with certain online communities. For example, Wikipedia requires users to share their beliefs, attitudes, emotions, and behaviors through their contributions and interactions on the platform. Users' identities are tied to their edits and discussions on talk pages, potentially exposing them to scrutiny and criticism. To address concerns about privacy and encourage participation from individuals who may be hesitant to reveal their identity, Wikipedia could implement a completely anonymous type of page for handling more sensitive or controversial topics. Additionally, providing tutorials on using VPNs could help users safeguard their anonymity. For instance, in cases like the Syria conflict, where individuals may fear retaliation for expressing certain views, anonymity could prevent harm and encourage candid contributions. By offering these options, Wikipedia could attract new users who feel more comfortable contributing without the fear of personal repercussions while maintaining the credibility of articles through transparent editing processes and discussion pages.

Throughout my engagement with the platform, both as a contributor and observer, I have recognized its immense potential and identified areas for improvement. The call for greater diversity among contributors and content remains significant, prompting the need for targeted outreach efforts to underrepresented groups. By fostering inclusivity through workshops, mentorship programs, and collaborations with diverse organizations, Wikipedia can create a more representative and vibrant community where all voices are valued. Furthermore, initiatives to integrate Wikipedia editing into educational curriculum and implement a badge system for recognizing valuable contributions can incentivize active participation and cultivate a culture of knowledge-sharing. Enhancements to the platform's user interface and privacy measures, such as implementing anonymous pages and providing tutorials on VPN usage, can ensure a seamless and secure experience for users. By embracing these strategies, Wikipedia can continue to evolve as the definitive encyclopedia of the 21st century, enriching the lives of millions and fostering a more informed and connected global community.