Can social media save Wikipedia from itself?

A system bias influenced social media experience

Sarah Stierch - @sarah_stierch - Social Media Week Hamburg 2013 - #smw13

here are a few facts

Can social media save Wikipedia from itself?

9% *

* Ranges from 9%-13% generally. I've even heard 23%. Regardless, it's depressing.

WHY?i'm too busy

too complextried and failed

overwhelming

it's geeky & uncool

:(

>:(

Ladies <3 social media

● Bloggers● Facebook users● Pinteresters ● Instagramers

● Twitter

Wikipedia & social mediaA few things to know:

● @Wikipedia ○ 82k followers○ Not social

● Facebook○ +1 million fans. ○ Not social

● Blog○ Mainly male contributors

● None of these are used to attract new editors● Open source means metrics challenges

WikiWomen's Collaborative

● Project inspired by women's rights movement of 19th & 20th century

● Social media is where women are

● Social media is free!● Provide a space for women to

be themselves; interact with & inspire each other, new editors

Throw your hands up..

Phase 1

● October● Focused on building likes &

followers● Finding volunteers● Writing content for social media

& blog● Creating a space on meta & logo● Promoting

Phase 2

● November-January● Two main goals:

○ More new editors○ Make project sustainable

■ More multilingual■ WWC + WMF

● Ask a WikiWoman event● Meta makeover● New roles for volunteers

http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiWomen's_Collaborative

#askawikiwoman

THIS WAS HARD

WikiWomen's Collaborative

● Hard to attract new editors○ PR campaign?

● But, experienced editors like it!○ Majority of Facebook users are editors○ More new potentials on Twitter

● 500+ likes on Facebook!!● 600+ on Twitter● Lots of great blogs ● Small group of volunteers - more needed

○ Hard to crowdsource volunteers

WWC Survey

● Small sample (24)● Majority active editors● Majority felt:

○ WWC made them feel more connected to community (women and general)

○ Participants more excited about mission○ Participants more aware of gender gap & how to help○ More like to edit Wikipedia & projects

● But did they?

YES!

WWC participants started editing more in September.

WWC launched in September.

Mind the gap - reflections● Social media has helped to

build a community of women who might not always communicate on wiki

● Culture change can be more powerful than tool change.

● Women want to socialize & create together

● Outreach does matter & make a difference

● Not sure if the gap can be closed anytime soon.

BE BOLD

Can social media save Wikipedia from itself?

A system bias influenced social media experience

Sarah Stierch - @sarah_stierch - Social Media Week Hamburg 2013 - #smw13

Thank you John & Christoph!

This entire presentation is: