Wikipedia turns 25 and shares a glimpse into the lives of its volunteer editors

It’s been 25 years since the motorboat of Wikipedia connected January 15th, 2001, and it’s travel a agelong measurement from lodging just 100 pages to becoming a behemoth of online knowledge pinch much than 65 cardinal articles that get almost 15 cardinal views each month.

To celebrate, the Wikimedia Foundation — the nonprofit that backs Wikipedia — is releasing little clips that item 8 of its editors from crossed the globe. Some of the featured editors see “Hurricane Hank,” who joined Wikipedia successful 2005 and contributed to the Hurricane Katrina page, on pinch Netha, an Indian expert and knowledgeable Wikipedia editor who utilized her knowledge to combat misinformation connected the tract during the covid pandemic.

The mini docuseries besides highlights Joanne from the UK, who took it upon herself to create the Wikipedia page for Eloise Butler — the creator of the first nationalist wildflower plot successful the US — aft proceeding astir her connected Instagram. Another volunteer, Gabe, intends to guarantee historical Black figures are represented decently and accurately connected the site. The videos put a quality look to immoderate of the accusation seen crossed Wikipedia, thing that’s go much important pinch the prevalence of AI.

The Wikimedia Foundation has launched a integer “time capsule” arsenic well, which includes an audio signaling from Wikipedia laminitis Jimmy Wales and revisits notable moments successful the site’s history, including erstwhile its servers astir collapsed aft group flooded the tract pursuing Michael Jackson’s decease successful 2009. You tin “sign” a integer day card, too, and watch a day arena livestream connected Thursday at 11AM ET.

Though it’s currently facing threats posed by politicians accusing the tract of bias, Wikipedia is still going strong, pinch complete 1.5 cardinal unsocial devices accessing the tract each month. “Against each odds, Wikipedia has grown to go the backbone of knowledge connected the net today,” Wales says successful a statement. “Wikipedia demonstrates 25 years of humanity astatine its best, proving that erstwhile group travel together successful the tone of building spot and collaboration, they tin make the intolerable possible.”