User:Ryleeg/Report

With a thorough yet brief introduction to Wikipedia and significant contributions to an existing page as a newcomer, there were several areas where improvements could be implemented to enhance my overall experience. I am viewing the platform from the perspective of a Wiki Education student who was guided through the process, but we are only a small portion of users. Roughly 120,000 users are contributing regularly (information found on Wikipedia), so it is a means of updating and improving as Internet use will only increase from here. I will touch on areas such as education on how to navigate Wikipedia as a newcomer, organization of talk pages, utilizing artificial intelligence, and verification of its contributors. As mentioned, I received an introduction on how to navigate contributing to Wikipedia. This included what makes for a well-rounded page with accurate, verified information, correct tone of voice, and all tools needed to achieve our goals in Wikipedia contributions. Without this education, I would have been unable to make my contributions in the time frame they were delivered. I suggest implementing a brief training-type page that all newcomers must complete before editing with the ability to ask questions via a Wikipedia representative. The training would take no longer than 5 minutes, so it should not hinder usage. The introduction will briefly pinpoint all the aids in Wikipedia such as a sandbox, talk page, and citation tool which made for a more seamless experience in my contribution. This introduction will also mention how the inability to follow guidelines will lead to a lack of credibility and limit how one can contribute. Although this would call for representatives and moderators to be more active, it would manage the lack of knowledge that newcomers may have. Someone who wants to make valuable contributions to Wikipedia may feel intimidated by the guidelines and simply lack the understanding of what makes a great page; this introductory training will combat any uneasiness for newcomers.

Let’s now look at how to improve the talk pages. The article I contributed to had a banner indicating multiple issues that could be discussed on the talk page. When looking through the discussion, it was difficult to understand and unorganized, as many of the notes on the talk page were from over 10 years ago and a conglomeration of multiple concerns. Implementing a system that archives discussion over resolved issues and moving older posts into a folder would declutter the page, making it easier to navigate and understand. They could also be categorized into points, such as concerns about content or needing assistance. Improved organization makes for a streamlined editing process, avoiding any ill feelings that diminish the value of Wikipedia in the eyes of users. With a more pleasing experience, people will have an increased incentive to use the talk pages for their purpose – interacting with fellow Wikipedias and making higher quality contributions to a page.

The points mentioned above would need to be developed with artificial intelligence to be efficient and effective. I suggest Wikipedia utilizes the emergence of AI and develops a welcoming, easy-to-use system that improves its quality of content. With the amount of users Wikipedia hosts, it is inevitable that human error, unintentional mistakes, or intentional trolling is not caught by the current technology and moderators. Machine learning and artificial intelligence have a boundless potential to improve Wikipedia. In terms of vandalism, there can be technology put in place that monitors edits before they are published. This detection of irrelevant or unnecessary information could dramatically reduce the actions of spammers and trolls across Wikipedia pages. AI can be used to answer simple questions and organize existing information, but the site can also utilize natural language processing, similar to Grammarly, to catch promotional language, biased tone, and overall grammar improvement will significantly improve writing across the platform. These additions would improve the professionalism and integrity of Wikipedia by ensuring the quality of its content.

Wikipedia, with thousands of contributors and countless edits made daily, it is difficult to catch all forms of trolling and vandalism. It is not only disruptive but diminishes the quality of Wikipedia, mocking those who have put adequate time and effort into their contributions. To address an ongoing issue, furthering the necessary forms of verification of users will benefit the site. This is a difficult route to discuss due to the preservation of anonymity and what verification would entail. Implementing simple measures such as email verification and authenticating users who begin to make edits would combat trolls on a measurable scale, as many times, those who want to hide behind anonymity have a reason to. On the opposite end of combating vandalism, there could be forms of verification badges for users who make consistent and valuable contributions. Wikipedia can reward those who exemplify what is necessary for the Wikimedia community; they can accept a badge on their username or highlighted edits to signify their value and history as a dedicated Wikipedian. Assuring credibility, recognizing and rewarding valuable users, and verifying newcomers preserve the community and incentive goals for editors. This creates more affective commitment as intrinsic motivators will positively reinforce esteemed users. Accountability and quality maintenance create a more welcoming space for newcomers and foster respect for consistent contributors.

Wikipedia contributors have to work against a difficult-to-navigate site, unorganized talk pages, and trolls who diminish the quality of the platform. I suggest the implementation of artificial intelligence and natural language processing technologies will enhance the writing quality and detect indecorous additions made to Wikipedia. This will reinforce community standards and maintain reliability throughout pages. Along with the technical improvements to be made, a reward system and verification measures will strengthen the Wikipedia community. With recognition and motivators, there will be increased user engagement and positive reinforcement for valuable users. Verification measures are necessary to combat the actions of trolls and spammers that negatively impact the quality of Wikipedia. Each of these suggestions will further the site’s integrity and foster a professional, community-driven platform.