Post by : Bianca
Haleem
On Thursday, Wikipedia marked 25 years of its existence as the world’s most extensive online encyclopedia, celebrating a significant milestone in its mission to provide free knowledge accessible to all.
To commemorate this anniversary, the Wikimedia Foundation, which governs Wikipedia, initiated a global campaign highlighting its history, dedicated volunteers, and future directions. Maryana Iskander, the CEO of Wikimedia Foundation, remarked, “Wikipedia stands as a digital marvel. The challenges it has faced have been met with unwavering support from those devoted to sharing reliable knowledge globally.”
Wikimedia released a docuseries featuring eight volunteers from different parts of the globe, showcasing their commitment—from recording storms in California to disseminating accurate COVID-19 updates in India. Dr. Netha Hussain, a medical professional from India, played a crucial role in providing essential pandemic-related information, emphasizing India’s expanding influence within the global Wikipedia landscape.
With India ranking fifth in worldwide Wikipedia traffic and generating approximately 800 million page views monthly, it stands third in terms of English Wikipedia editors, following the US and UK. Wikipedia's availability in more than 25 Indic languages, covering almost all 22 scheduled Indian languages, establishes it as an invaluable educational resource.
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Wikimedia Foundation has planned:
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An engaging quiz examining Wikipedia’s future
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A global digital birthday card initiative
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A virtual birthday celebration on January 15, to be livestreamed on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram
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Limited-time “Birthday mode” features with the introduction of the new character, Baby Globe
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Exclusive Wikipedia-themed merchandise, including a plush Baby Globe
In the age of AI, Wikipedia continues to rank among the top ten global websites. With 65 million articles spanning over 300 languages, it garners nearly 15 billion views monthly, supporting search engines, AI tools, and voice assistants while reaffirming the significance of human knowledge.
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