Wikipedia Turns 24: Here's How The People's Encyclopedia Has Evolved Over The Years

What started as a small project with just a few articles has expanded into a multilingual repository of millions of entries across more than 300 languages.

From science and history to pop culture and niche topics, Wikipedia covers an incredible array of subjects.

Source : Unsplash/Luke Chesser

People's encyclopedia. Wikipedia, turned 24 recently and is now just one year away from celebrating its silver jubilee. Since its launch on January 15, 2001, by founders Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger, Wikipedia has grown from a simple experiment in collaborative writing to one of the most visited websites globally.

When it began its journey, it was often criticised for its inaccuacy, but by 2010, it was able to sort this issue to a great extent.

Wikipedia: Mapping The Journey

What started as a small project with just a few articles has expanded into a multilingual repository of millions of entries across more than 300 languages. From science and history to pop culture and niche topics, Wikipedia covers an incredible array of subjects, thanks to its community-driven model. Unlike traditional encyclopedias, Wikipedia invites anyone with internet access to contribute, edit, or update content. This approach has democratised knowledge-sharing, allowing people worldwide to participate in creating an ever-expanding source of information.

Over the years, Wikipedia has embraced technological innovations to improve accessibility and usability. The introduction of mobile-friendly versions in 2006 allowed the platform to reach billions of smartphone users. Later, the platform integrated tools like visual editors, making it easier for non-technical contributors to add content.

Beyond its functional value, Wikipedia has become a cultural phenomenon. It has inspired memes, informed countless debates, and even become a trusted companion for breaking news. Its transparent editing history also provides a unique window into how society’s understanding of events evolves over time.

Wikipedia Became Leftist? 

Wikipedia has frequently faced criticism for allegedly promoting left-leaning ideologies, with notable figures like Elon Musk, the owner of X, voicing concerns about its perceived bias. But is there any truth to these accusations? In a recent interview, Larry Sanger, co-founder of Wikipedia, weighed in on the matter, acknowledging that the platform has, over time, taken a noticeable shift towards the left.

Sanger in an interview said, "Wikipedia made a real effort at neutrality for its first five years or so, and then it began a long, slow slide into what I would call 'leftist propaganda'. That's a harsh description to put on Wikipedia, but at least a lot of political articles read that way now. That's because they follow the news media, at least they have done in the last 10 or 15 years."

Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger on how his site went woke pic.twitter.com/vGTp97OIRm

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) December 31, 2024

He added, "They've gradually gotten rid of all blogs, and recently they got rid of almost all conservative news sources as sources for their articles. So as the news media has shifted and as the establishment has shifted to the left, the content of Wikipedia has synced."