Exploring Wikipedia’s Intriguing History and Uncertain Future | Richard Cooke

A recent reflection on Wikipedia reveals a stark contrast between its widespread use and its often questionable reputation. Despite being a go-to source for millions daily, many users still harbor doubts about its reliability, viewing it as merely a “free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.”

Yet, the numbers speak volumes. With over 5.2 billion words in the English version alone, Wikipedia has become an integral part of the internet since its inception in 2001 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger. However, this essential platform often elicits an odd disinterest among users, culminating in a sense of digital nostalgia. It stands out as a beacon from an era gone by, maintaining its original design and function.

Intrigued by this irony, the author delved into the early years of Wikipedia, uncovering how its unique blend of amateur spirit and philosophical underpinnings attracted a niche following, mainly from academics. This journey led the author to pen a book exploring its fascinating human history.

Rather than approaching it from a technological perspective, the author, rooted in the humanities, highlights how concepts like philosophy and even aesthetics, such as the Japanese term wabi-sabi—representing beauty in imperfection—played crucial roles in the platform’s development.

Among the pioneers, Wales and Sanger are well-known, yet numerous early contributors remain obscure. The first woman to edit Wikipedia, Gaytha Langlois, largely went unnoticed, focusing her efforts on topics close to her heart: Rhode Island and standard poodles. The site’s persistent gender disparity continues to attract criticism, prompting efforts for balance, like the emergence of alternative platforms such as Mappa Mundi.

Another notable figure is Ruth Ifcher, credited with creating the first biographical page for a woman. Stymied by agoraphobia, Ifcher found a new creative outlet through Wikipedia, which opened doors for her later in life.

Neurodiversity, an integral part of the Wikipedia community, has led some to describe the encyclopedia as a “city built by Asperger’s.” Contributors often overproduce content, leading to a phenomenon dubbed “fancruft,” where excessive detail on niche topics results in conflicts about inclusion versus deletion—one of the core philosophical debates within the community.

Initially, Wales and Sanger envisioned Wikipedia as a smaller project of around 100,000 articles, mirroring the size of traditional encyclopedias like Britannica. Today, however, Wikipedia boasts a staggering 68 million articles. Pew Research data reflects its massive reach, with approximately 1.9 trillion page views from 2015 to 2025.

As the book nears completion, the author observes precarious shifts, with artificial intelligence increasingly encroaching on Wikipedia. This includes reducing web traffic and the influx of poorly constructed AI-generated content. While concerns about the platform’s future are valid, the resilience of Wikipedia suggests it will endure, although its foundational vulnerabilities warrant attention.

• The Last Best Place on the Internet: A Human History of Wikipedia by Richard Cooke is available now in Australia via Black Inc, and from WW Norton in the United States. It will be released in the UK on November 5 through Granta.