With the surge in user-generated content on the internet, it is oftentimes difficult to decipher if what you are reading online is, in fact, accurate. Personally, if I am on a site where other visitors to the site are able to add content simply if they have internet connection, I am typically very reluctant to deem what I am reading as factual and would certainly check other sources to verify what I was reading is correct information.

Wikipedia has long sought criticism because of the ease ability to add/use vandalism, bias and misinformation freely on the site.

Researchers from the Wiki Lab at the University of California Santa Cruz have developed a system called WikiTrust that will help visitors to the site decipher whether or not the information consumed is relevant and reliable. The system developed (which, by the way, is optional to use) will color code every word of the encyclopedia based on the reliability of its author and the length of time the content has been on the page. If the “trust tab” has been clicked, this tool has any text from questionable sources start out with a bright orange background, while text from trusted authors gets a lighter shade. As more people view and edit the new text, it gradually gains more “trust” and turns from orange to white. The authors creditability is determined by using an algorithm that calculates their reputation from the lifespan of their past contributions.

Where you should be cautious is that WikiTrust can “detect” questionable content, but this does not mean that it measures “truth.” Trustworthiness is determined by the number of people that agree with a certain passage of text. There is also the option to flag content as unreliable, if questionable or controversial content is added and supported.

This new system is a step in the right direction. Although it is not completely accurate, it does help eliminate the authors who are not providing applicable and worthy information to the site. Ultimately, the site will prove to be a more reputable source of information with this feature implemented.

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