Submissions/Uzbek Wikipedia under the Streisand Effect: When Censorship Backfires

From Wikimania 2013 • Hong Kong

This is an accepted submission for Wikimania 2013.

Subject no.
A1
Article growth on Uzbek Wikipedia
Milestone Date
1st edit 12.21.2003
100 articles 01.15.2006
500 articles 05.24.2006
1,000 articles 05.28.2006
10,000 articles 06.05.2012
20,000 articles 07.05.2012
30,000 articles 07.31.2012
40,000 articles 08.27.2012
50,000 articles 11.08.2012
60,000 articles 11.29.2012
70,000 articles 01.04.2013
80,000 articles 02.13.2013
90,000 articles 03.10.2013
100,000 articles 03.20.2013
Submission no.
1005
Title of the submission
Uzbek Wikipedia under the Streisand Effect: When Censorship Backfires
Type of submission
Presentation
Author of the submission
Nataev
Country of origin
Kyrgyzstan
Affiliation
Central European University
E-mail address
ataevnodir@gmail.com
Username
Nataev
Personal homepage or blog
Personal Page (In Uzbek)
Abstract

The Uzbek Wikipedia has been blocked in Uzbekistan for over a year now. Paradoxically, the Uzbek Wikipedia started to rise significantly after the blockage. The number of articles went from 10,000 in June 2012 to 100,000 in March 2013. Even though most of the new articles were created by bots, the number of well-written articles has also risen substantially. This might have happened because of the Streisand effect whereby censoring something often makes it more desirable. In my presentation, I would like to share with others my findings about what forces have caused the positive changes on the Uzbek Wikipedia.

Detailed proposal

The Uzbek Wikipedia has been blocked in the territory of Uzbekistan for over a year. Paradoxically, the Uzbek Wikipedia started to grow significantly after the blockage. The number of articles went from 10,000 in early June 2012 to 100,000 in late March 2013. Even though most of the new articles were created by bots, the number of well-written articles has also risen substantially. The number of good and featured articles has increased. Currently we have more active users than before, despite the blockage. It is remarkable that we have experienced so many positive changes in such a short time. I have been personally involved, directly or indirectly, in all of these positive changes.

The recent rapid growth of the Uzbek Wikipedia might have taken place due to the Streisand effect whereby censoring something often makes it more desirable and leads to it being more actively sought. Alternatively, the reason for the Uzbek Wikipedia’s growth might be the increased public awareness about Wikipedia in general and the blocking of its Uzbek version in particular. In the last two years, more news articles have been written about the Uzbek Wikipedia than in its entire history. More and more publications, both in Uzbekistan and outside, are following what is happening on the Uzbek Wikipedia. Thus, increased public awareness might be the driving force behind the positive changes that are taking place on our Wikipedia.

I would like to explore in greater detail what has triggered people to read and edit the Uzbek Wikipedia more frequently. If my submission is accepted, I will prepare an interesting presentation in which I will summarize all that has been happening on the Uzbek Wikipedia in the last couple of years. I will also share my findings about what forces have caused the positive changes in our Wikipedia.

Track
Wikis in Asia
Length of presentation/talk
25 Minutes
Language of presentation/talk
English
Will you attend Wikimania if your submission is not accepted?
Yes
Slides or further information (optional)
To be uploaded.
Special requests
None


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  1. ☾ ☆☆☆ ☆☆☆☆ ☆☆☆☆☆ --అమీర్ ఎ. అహరొని (talk) 13:42, 20 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  2. Leysan Gilmutdinova (talk) 13:42, 26 February 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  3. Suyogaerospace (talk) 09:03, 20 March 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  4. Slashme (talk) 19:04, 7 April 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  5. Pundit (talk) 19:55, 11 April 2013 (UTC) sounds really cool![reply]
  6. Man77 (talk) 20:14, 17 April 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  7. Daniel Mietchen (talk) 15:56, 20 April 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  8. SarahStierch (talk) 20:46, 23 April 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  9. CT Cooper · talk 00:35, 29 April 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  10. Phoebe (talk) 04:35, 1 May 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  11. Axel Pettersson (WMSE) (talk) 09:14, 6 May 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  12. Schiste (talk) 11:10, 7 May 2013 (UTC)[reply]
  13. Your name here
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