97 Country Report: Wikipedia (Italy)
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Wikipedia is an information powerhouse, full of facts, history, and knowledge on nearly any topic in the world. When it comes to the reliability or accuracy of information represented, it becomes a question of who exactly is authoring these pages, where are they getting the information, and who is accessing Wikipedia pages as a point of research. When it comes to Italy, the widespread usage of the webpage is not surprising. Having a country population of about 59 million and nearly 500 million monthly page views from the people of Italy, one could conclude Wikipedia is a popular website for Italians. This widespread use can be attributed to the rich history and culture of Italy. The ‘history’ tab of the Italy Wikipedia page is the vastest including eight subpages. Because Italians value their past and upbringing, it makes sense for this to be the biggest highlight of the page.
Italy has a rich appreciation for the digital world as Italians value the role that Wikipedia plays in making knowledge accessible to all. As millions use the site every day to learn about a wide range of topics, it has become an integral part of Italy’s information landscape. Regarding reliability, many Italian schools, libraries, universities, and even the government recognize and support Wikipedia’s growth and development. While it is widely used, there are still some in Italy who question the reliability of information on Wikipedia. However, most Italians trust the resource as it houses a wealth of knowledge.
Wikipedia being an open-source website allows for some users to update and edit information online. While this is where most of the distrust comes from, it also offers a unique perspective as it allows a wider range of information. According to the Wikipedia edit history, the editors of the page are primarily Italian with a few AI Bots. Having most of the editors be Italian citizens increases the credibility and trustworthiness of the website. Italy values Wikipedia as a crucial source of information and a tool for promoting education and historical preservation.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy