tmomani11

Wikipedia as Social Media: Collaboration and Governance

• Tyler Momani
• Kathryn Bergen
• Dyulan Massaro
• Alejandro O'Beirne Serrano

Abstract

This project looks at how Wikipedia can maybe be seen as a kind of social media, not just an encyclopedia. Unlike places like Reddit or Twitter, it doesn’t have likes, karma, or follower counts, but it still manages to get huge participation and collective knowledge built over time. The way people use talk pages, get into edit wars, or show bursts of activity makes it feel similar to other social platforms, even though its design is much more stripped down. We want to understand how this setup shapes community rules, editor motivation, and the quality of what gets produced. In the end, the project asks whether Wikipedia’s model can teach other platforms how to create healthier engagement and more trust without relying on the usual social media features.

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tmomani11

Wikipedia as Social Media

The question of whether Wikipedia should be understood as a kind of social media platform raises issues at the intersection of sociology, computer science, and design.

Sociology: How do different platform features (likes, karma, follower counts) shape user motivation and participation? Do they incentivize short-term engagement over sustained collaboration?
Design: Wikipedia deliberately excludes many features common to Twitter, Reddit, or StackExchange. What effect does this minimalist design have on community governance, trust, and knowledge quality?
Data Science: Can we measure the behavioral effects of interface features by comparing editing dynamics across platforms? For example, does the absence of “like” buttons reduce shallow engagement but increase long-term contributions?
Software Engineering: Could other social media platforms borrow aspects of Wikipedia’s design (e.g., discussion pages, edit histories, transparency) to counter misinformation

tmomani11

Wikipedia Talk Page Contribution – Homework 2

Topic Chosen: Talk: Python (programming language)

Python (programming language)

Talk Page Issue

The article has previously used subjective phrasing such as “easy to use” to describe Python.
This kind of language raises concerns under Wikipedia’s Neutral Point of View (WP:NPOV) policy.
While Python is widely adopted as a first programming language, terms like “easy” are subjective and can read as promotional.

tmomani11

Wikipedia Contribution

Article: Applications of 3D printing

What I changed

I added a subsection to the Healthcare section that describes FDA-approved uses of 3D printing, including surgical guides, implants, dental devices, and prosthetics. I also included emerging applications such as drug delivery and bioprinting, citing both official FDA guidance and a recent peer-reviewed review article.

Why I changed it