The document discusses the challenges Wikipedia faces in attracting new editors, particularly women, and explores how social media can help bridge this gap. It highlights the WikiWomen's Collaborative project aimed at building a community and empowering women to contribute to Wikipedia through social media engagement. The findings suggest social media fosters connections, increases awareness of gender disparities, and encourages more editing among participants.

1. Can social media save
Wikipedia from itself?
A system bias influenced social media experience
Sarah Stierch - @sarah_stierch - Social Media Week Hamburg 2013 - #smw13

7. Can social media save
Wikipedia from itself?
here are a few facts

8. 9%
*
* Ranges from 9%-13% generally. I've even heard 23%. Regardless, it's depressing.

9. i'm too busy
overwhelming
WHY?
tried and failed
too complex
it's geeky & uncool

13. :(

14. >:(

16. Ladies <3 social media
● Bloggers
● Facebook users
● Pinteresters
● Instagramers
● Twitter

17. Wikipedia & social media
A 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

18. 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

19. Throw your hands up..

21. Phase 1
● October
● Focused on building likes &
followers
● Finding volunteers
● Writing content for social media
& blog
● Creating a space on meta & logo
● Promoting

26. 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

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

28. #askawikiwoman

29. THIS WAS HARD

30. 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

31. 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?

32. YES!
WWC participants started editing more in
September.
WWC launched in September.

33. 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.

34. BE BOLD

36. Can social media save
Wikipedia from itself?
A system bias influenced social media experience
Thank you John & Christoph!
This entire presentation is:
Sarah Stierch - @sarah_stierch - Social Media Week Hamburg 2013 - #smw13