The digital encyclopedia is launching a short docuseries that showcases the individuals behind a variety of Wikipedia entries.
The digital encyclopedia is launching a short docuseries that showcases the individuals behind a variety of Wikipedia entries.
It has been 25 years since Wikipedia’s inception on January 15, 2001, and it has dramatically evolved from containing merely 100 entries to transforming into a titan of online information with over 65 million articles garnering nearly 15 billion views each month.
To commemorate this milestone, the Wikimedia Foundation — the nonprofit organization supporting Wikipedia — is rolling out short videos that feature eight of its editors worldwide. Among those highlighted is “Hurricane Hank,” who became a Wikipedia editor in 2005 and contributed to the Hurricane Katrina page, as well as Netha, an Indian physician and veteran Wikipedia contributor who leveraged her expertise to counter misinformation on the platform during the covid pandemic.
The mini docuseries also features Joanne from the UK, who decided to establish the Wikipedia entry for Eloise Butler — who founded the first public wildflower garden in the US — after discovering her story on Instagram. Another contributor, Gabe, aims to ensure accurate and fair representation of historical Black figures on the platform. These videos provide a personal connection to some of the content available on Wikipedia, a need that has gained urgency with the rise of AI.
Additionally, the Wikimedia Foundation has unveiled a digital “time capsule” that includes a voice recording from Wikipedia’s founder Jimmy Wales and revisits significant moments in the website’s journey, such as when its servers nearly crashed due to the surge of visitors following Michael Jackson’s passing in 2009. You can also “sign” a digital birthday card and tune into a birthday event livestream on Thursday at 11AM ET.
Despite currently facing challenges from politicians claiming the site is biased, Wikipedia continues to thrive, with over 1.5 billion unique devices visiting the site monthly. “Against all odds, Wikipedia has developed into the cornerstone of knowledge on the internet today,” Wales stated. “Wikipedia exemplifies 25 years of human achievement, demonstrating that when people unite in the pursuit of building trust and collaboration, they can achieve what seems impossible.”
