Post by : Badri Ariffin

Wikipedia, renowned as the largest online encyclopedia globally, celebrated its 25th anniversary on Thursday, recognizing a significant journey of providing accessible, human-driven knowledge to individuals worldwide.

In commemoration of this milestone, the Wikimedia Foundation has initiated a worldwide campaign to highlight its achievements, the dedicated volunteers, and the future of the platform. Maryana Iskander, CEO of Wikimedia Foundation, remarked, “Wikipedia is a testament to digital progress. It has triumphed over numerous obstacles thanks to countless individuals who share reliable, free knowledge with the world.”

As part of the 25th celebrations, Wikimedia launched a docuseries featuring eight volunteer editors from various countries, showcasing their commitment to documentation efforts that range from highlighting weather events in California to providing accurate COVID-19 information in India. Notably, Dr. Netha Hussain, a medical professional from India, played an instrumental role in expanding pandemic-related knowledge, reflecting India’s important place within the global Wikipedia landscape.

India holds the fifth position worldwide in Wikipedia views, tallying approximately 800 million page views monthly, and ranks third in English Wikipedia contributors, trailing behind the US and UK. With Wikipedia available in over 25 Indic languages, encompassing almost all of India's 22 scheduled languages, it serves as a vital educational tool within local communities.

In conjunction with the anniversary, the Wikimedia Foundation has planned various activities, including:

• An interactive quiz delving into the future of Wikipedia

• A global digital birthday card signing event

• A virtual celebration on January 15, streamed live on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram

• Special surprises featuring the new mascot, Baby Globe, in a “Birthday mode”

• Exclusive Wikipedia merchandise, including a Baby Globe plush toy

Even amidst the AI era, Wikipedia remains a prominent global website. With 65 million articles across more than 300 languages, attracting nearly 15 billion views monthly, it supports search engines, AI assistants, and underlines the enduring relevance of human knowledge.

#Global News