Wikipedia To Test Editing Restrictions

By Doug Caverly - Tue, 09/25/2007 - 10:50

Some people love Wikipedia, some people hate it, and pretty much everybody knows better than to cite it as a source. A new editing system aims to make the online encyclopedia a bit more reliable, however.

The arrangement will allow only “trusted” users to make instant edits to articles; edits made by other users will need to be reviewed by those trusted individuals. New Scientist Tech reports, “To earn this trusted status, users will have to show some commitment to Wikipedia, by making 30 edits in 30 days, say.”

These restrictions will not have an immediate effect on Wikipedia.org - the system is only going to be tested, and it’s only going to be tested in Germany. A successful run could lead to implementation in the States and elsewhere, though.

As for the odds of its success . . . The system is likely to cut down on the appearance of vulgarities and outright misinformation. But there’s the whole balance-of-power-and-bias issue to consider, and limiting edits could slow Wikipedia down (no more instant updates on current events) and discourage participation.

Making Wikipedia more reliable would be a good thing. The site’s leaders will just have to be very careful about how they accomplish this goal.

News Tags: wikipedia, tech, Editing, Germany

About the author:
Doug is a staff writer for WebProNews. Visit WebProNews for the latest eBusiness news.

1 Comment

By David Shankbone (WPN reader) - Wed, 09/26/2007 - 15:15

Wikipedia

If you are going to consider negatives, I wouldn't throw out negatives that have no basis in reality. You write, "But there’s the whole balance-of-power-and-bias issue to consider, and limiting edits could slow Wikipedia down (no more instant updates on current events) and discourage participation."

For those of us who edit the encyclopedia, we already know that 90% of the substance comes from established editors. IP addresses, and brand new User names rarely add much to the discourse and information.

You were way of base saying "no more instant updates" -- those of us on the site know that the breakneck pace of updates is, again, undertaken by established editors. They are the ones who, upon hearing or reading a news item, immediately think to contribute it to Wikipedia. Unregistered users and registered users are not the engine, by any stretch of the imagination, that runs Wikipedia.