I previously blogged about how some of the key statistics for Wikipedia suggest the site is stagnating or declining. This picture is reinforced by new evidence:
A sharp drop in Wikipedians, the volunteers who write and edit the online encyclopaedia, is a disturbing and inevitable trend, the Toronto man who was once their top contributor said Monday.
"Losing volunteers is a sign that things could be better at Wikipedia," Simon Pulsifer said during a break in his full-time job at a software company...
The core of devoted wikigeeks who spawned the phenomenon in 250 languages is dropping off more quickly than new volunteers are signing on, a group of Spanish researchers reported...
With a shrinking stable of contributors, Pulsifer sees Wikipedia evolving, in the next eight years, into an online resource where "a lot of articles will be locked down. The history of Wikipedia has been one of increasing barriers to changing articles."
You can read more in the Toronto Star.
[...] Belam is one of those who has picked up on the story about the number of people contributing to Wikipedia falling away. He makes the reasonable comment: Not entirely convinced by this argument. Yes edit wars and [...]
Glad you have kept on top of this. I wrote a thought piece on why Wikipedia may be declining based on the lessons we're all learning from crowdsourcing companies. Thought you might enjoy it (and the comments which are very insightful from a few contributors):
http://www.enterpriseirregular.....otivation/
@nielr1
Thanks Neil. It's an interesting piece.
[...] your activities via social networks. All a bit old school - and perhaps a part-explanation for the tailing off of activity. Share with [...]