In search of the least viewed article on Wikipedia (2022) (colinmorris.github.io)

Article summary

The article explores the concept of finding the least viewed article on Wikipedia, using 2021 pageview data for a random sample of 32,000 articles. The author discovers that disambiguation pages have lower view counts, and after filtering them out, finds articles with single-digit annual views, mostly about insect species and obscure geographical features. The article also discusses the role of the 'Random article' button and its implementation, which can affect the view counts of articles. The author concludes that the least viewed articles are often 'unlucky' in terms of their random gap, making them less likely to be landed on.

Main themes

• Wikipedia's notability policy
• article deletion
• random article button
• information diversity
• censorship
• knowledge accumulation

What commenters say

• Wikipedia's notability policy can lead to the deletion of articles, even if they are well-researched and informative, and this policy can be used to suppress certain viewpoints or information.
• The policy of deleting non-notable articles can be problematic, as it may lead to the loss of valuable information and can be influenced by personal biases.
• Allowing more articles to have sections for different viewpoints and biases could improve the diversity and accuracy of information on Wikipedia.
• The deletion of articles can be seen as a form of censorship, and the use of the 'notability' criterion can be arbitrary and influenced by personal opinions.
• The 'Random article' button can have an impact on the view counts of articles, and its implementation can affect the discovery of new and obscure topics.
• The preservation of all articles, regardless of their notability, could be beneficial for the accumulation of knowledge and the diversity of information on Wikipedia.
• The rules and policies of Wikipedia should be re-examined to ensure that they are fair, transparent, and do not suppress certain viewpoints or information.
• The deletion of articles can be a necessary process to maintain the quality and accuracy of information on Wikipedia, but it should be done in a fair and transparent manner.