Reliable. Credible. Trustworthy. Are these the words you think of when you think Wikipedia? Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia appears at the top of most Google search queries, and is therefore, hard to ignore. It is a plethora of information and a web of ideas on every topic created and maintained by the online community. Does that mean we’re all subject matter experts? How do we differentiate fact from fiction? And how do we protect the integrity of corporations from online vandalism if any information can be altered or deleted by anyone?
Wikipedia is not perfect and like any pass along media, should be taken with a grain of salt and not be accepted blindly. Here are some careful considerations one should take in evaluating wikis from Dummies.com:
• Look for a slant. Some articles are fair and balanced, but others look more like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. If an article has only one source, beware.
• Consider the source. Even if an article cites external sources, check out those sources to see whether they are being cited fairly and accurately — and do, in fact, reinforce the article’s points.
• Look who’s talking. If you research the contributors themselves and find that they are experts in their fields, you can be more confident in the entry.
• Start here, but keep going. Wikipedia should be a starting point for research but not your primary source for research material.
The idea behind Wikis is dynamic collaboration of resources, ideas and knowledge. But what are we really promoting? Many argue that the ability for Wikis to quickly edit Wiki pages makes it a highly volatile marketing communications pass along medium. Multiple collaboration also means that no one source is able to verify and/or own the information posted.
Not familiar with Wikis? View this video to learn more about this free collaborative online encyclopedia.
