Wikipedia

Wikipedia’s advantages and disadvantages

1. Advantages

Wikipedia that uses open source has a huge amount of contents generated by a member of community. Everybody has authority freely to edit, copy, and distribute the contents. Thus, they are easily shared by as many people as possible. Moreover, Wikipedia doesn’t have limitations of place and time unlike traditional encyclopedia. People can simply access to Wikipedia on the Internet whenever they need to figure out curiosity.

Wikipedia’s contents provide their history, application method, and website for reference as well as explanation of word meaning. These help users obtain a variety of sources and have wide application in practice.

Finally, modifiable data is the most advantage of Wikipedia. Dictionaries we know have errors undoubtedly. However, it takes a long time to revise contents, even if people call contents into question. In contrast, Wikipedia immediately points out wrong parts. Also, even if what someone points out is wrong, it’s possible to edit again because discussion record remains.

2. Disadvantages

First, Wikipedia presents problem in the accuracy because anybody can easily access to Wikipedia and edit its contents without any restraints. This makes quality and accuracy of contents on Wikipedia lowered, resulting in the lack of credit by many people. Also, there can be different kind of views about one theme in different countries due to the controversial facts historically.

Second, Wikipedia are operated by volunteers in web other than encyclopedia. Thus, motivation them is really hard since there is no reward system. Experts who manage encyclopedia get good reputation and authority by involving in editing prestigious works. On the other hand, users who involve in editing in the Wikipedia get nothing. This leads to a sharp decline of volunteers so that it makes Wikipedia’s quality dropped.