How Wikipedia became the last good place on the internet (cambridge.org)

Article summary

The article discusses how Wikipedia became a reliable source of information over time, despite its early reputation as a dubious source. This transformation occurred through a process of endogenous institutional change, where the loss of editors who supported fringe content led to a shift in the interpretation and implementation of Wikipedia's Neutral Point of View (NPOV) guideline. The article argues that this change was not caused by external factors, but rather by the internal dynamics of the Wikipedia community. The study of Wikipedia's transformation has implications for our understanding of institutional change and the role of endogenous processes in shaping the trajectory of organizations.

Main themes

• Wikipedia's transformation
• endogenous institutional change
• rebuilding the internet
• fediverse and decentralized social media
• democratic ownership and control
• socialism and liberalism
• collective action and cooperation
• non-profit and cooperative models
• technology and society
• economics and ownership

What commenters say

• Rebuilding the internet requires a collective effort to create alternative platforms and services that prioritize user control and transparency.
• The fediverse, a network of decentralized social media platforms, has the potential to provide a more democratic and community-driven alternative to traditional social media.
• Some commenters argue that the fediverse is not a viable alternative due to its technical limitations and lack of mainstream appeal.
• Others believe that the key to creating a better internet lies in promoting democratic ownership and control of online platforms and services.
• There is a need for a coordination mechanism to facilitate collective action and cooperation among individuals and organizations working to rebuild the internet.
• Socialism and liberalism are seen as complementary ideologies that can work together to promote democratic ownership and control of online platforms and services.
• The concept of ownership and control is complex and multifaceted, and different perspectives on what it means to own and control online platforms and services are presented.
• The importance of protecting collective ownership and control from being co-opted by corporate or government interests is emphasized.
• The potential for non-profit and cooperative models to provide a more sustainable and democratic alternative to traditional corporate-owned platforms is discussed.
• The need for a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between technology, society, and economics is highlighted in order to create a better internet.