Wikipedia has marked its 25th anniversary by celebrating the volunteer editors who have helped build and maintain the world’s largest online encyclopedia.
Launched on January 15, 2001, Wikipedia has grown from just 100 pages into a global knowledge platform with more than 65 million articles that attract nearly 15 billion views every month.
To commemorate the milestone, the Wikimedia Foundation is releasing a short docuseries that introduces eight volunteer editors from different parts of the world. The videos aim to put real faces behind the articles that millions of people rely on daily for information.
Among the featured editors is “Hurricane Hank,” who joined Wikipedia in 2005 and contributed to coverage of major natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina. Another editor, Netha, is an Indian doctor who used her medical expertise to fight misinformation on Wikipedia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The series also highlights Joanne from the UK, who created a Wikipedia page for Eloise Butler, the founder of the first public wildflower garden in the United States, after discovering her story on social media. Gabe, another volunteer editor, focuses on improving the accuracy and representation of historic Black figures on the platform.
The docuseries emphasizes the human effort behind Wikipedia at a time when AI-generated content is becoming more common online. By showcasing its editors, Wikimedia hopes to underline the importance of human judgment, research, and collaboration in maintaining reliable information.
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In addition to the videos, the Wikimedia Foundation has launched a digital time capsule featuring an audio message from Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales. The capsule revisits key moments in Wikipedia’s history, including the surge in traffic that nearly overwhelmed its servers following Michael Jackson’s death in 2009. Users can also sign a digital birthday card and take part in anniversary livestream events celebrating Wikipedia’s 25-year journey.
