Submissions:2025/Imagining Wikimedia’s Futures: Global Trends Through Local Lenses
This submission has been noted and is pending review for WikiConference North America 2025.
Title:
- Imagining Wikimedia’s Futures: Global Trends Through Local Lenses
Type of session:
- Edit-a-thons or Workshops (30-120 min)
Session theme(s):
- Future of Wikipedia
Abstract:
In this moment of profound global transformation, the Wikimedia Movement faces challenges to the relevance and resilience of our projects. We need to deepen our understanding of how the world and internet are changing around us, how these changes are impacting our people and projects, and develop joint responses that support our shared mission for free knowledge. Wikimedians have already begun discussing global trends that impact our communities and projects, from declining trust in online information, to the rise of AI-generated content, shifting regulatory landscapes, and more. This session invites participants to examine global trends through a local lens. We’ll focus on how these broader developments are affecting communities in North America in particular. The specific trend we are going to present and discuss will be decided upon prior to the event. Guiding questions may include:
- How are you seeing key global trends play out in your local region and context?
- What is the current state of public opinion, contributor growth, or legal regulations in your region?
- Which recent developments are most concerning or impactful for your community?
These discussions will also help inform the upcoming “Wikimedia Futures Lab,” a process and convening co-designed by the Wikimedia Foundation and Wikimedia Deutschland, to learn more about global trends and discuss potential movement-wide responses.
Author name(s):
Wikimedia username(s):
- Eva Martinn (WMDE)
Affiliated organization(s):
- Wikimedia Deutschland
Estimated length of session
- 45 - 60 minutes
Will you be presenting remotely?
- I will present in-person
Okay to livestream?
- Livestreaming is okay
Previously presented?
- No
Special requests:
- Since this is a process co-designed by the Wikimedia Fondation and Wikimedia Deutschland, we will decide closer to the event who can join to co-host the workshop, if the session is accepted.