Even in our “Post-Truth Era,” Wikipedia has managed to retain an allure of objectivity. In fact, a recent UK survey found that more Brits believe this crowd-sourced online encyclopedia versus the mainstream media. To preserve its high credibility with the public, Wikipedia recently announced it’s taking steps to prevent misinformation on all pages related to the 2020 Presidential Election.
Recently, Wikipedia said it will tighten its editing restrictions on its “2020 Election” article. Only people who’ve had a Wikipedia account for at least one month and made 500 edits could contribute to this webpage. It’s expected these changes will go into effect on October 28th, 2020.
In addition to restricting editor access, Wikipedia will use its “alert system” to immediately let long-standing editors know of any recent changes. The online encyclopedia already uses the strategy on hot button topics such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many Wiki editors who have administrator status say they’re carefully monitoring the hundreds of state and congressional elections slated for November 3rd. Administrators also believe Wikipedia will only source election results from a trusted organization like the Associated Press.
Indeed, one of the main ways Wikipedia builds trust is by providing a list of reliable references throughout every article. Unlike posts on Facebook or Twitter, Wiki entries must contain precise citations so readers could verify every claim. Even academics skeptical of Wikipedia’s anonymous editing system admit the robust reference lists make it a useful “tool to get started” doing research.
You could find Wikipedia’s “2020 United States Presidential Election” page on this link.
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