WikiHow explained

wikiHow
Parent:wikiHow, Inc.
Commercial:Yes ("hybrid organization")
Company Type:Private
Location City:Palo Alto, California
Location Country:United States
Area Served:Worldwide
Language:English, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Russian, Czech, Japanese, Indonesian, Arabic, Thai, Korean, Vietnamese, Hindi, Turkish, Persian
Type:Online how-to website
Registration:Optional, but necessary for certain tasks
Author:Jack Herrick
Current Status:Active
Language Count:19[1]
Content License:Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (user-generated content)[2]

wikiHow is an online wiki-style publication featuring how-to articles and quizzes on a variety of topics. Founded in 2005 by Internet entrepreneur Jack Herrick, its aim is to create an extensive database of instructional content, using the wiki model of open collaboration to allow users to add, create, and modify content. It is a hybrid organization, a for-profit company run for a social mission. wikiHow uses a forked version of the free and open-source MediaWiki software; these modifications made by wikiHow were freely available to the general public via a self-serve download site from 2010 to late 2020, when wikiHow chose to discontinue the self-serve portal, citing vague "DoS attacks", as well as noting that publishing the source code is "not part of our core mission".[3] [4] [5] The site's text content is released under a Creative Commons NonCommercial license.

In February 2005, wikiHow had over 35.5 million unique visitors., wikiHow contains more than 235,000 how-to articles and over 2.5 million registered users.

History

wikiHow was founded by Jack Herrick on January 15, 2005, with the goal of creating "the how-to guide for everything."[6] January 15 was selected as its launch date to honor Wikipedia, which was launched on January 15, 2001.[7]

Herrick drew inspiration for wikiHow from eHow, a how-to website he and business partner Josh Hannah purchased in 2004. After running eHow, Herrick concluded that its business model prevented it from becoming the extensive, high quality how-to site he wanted to create.[8] Deciding that the wiki method of content creation would ultimately produce higher-quality work, both of them sold eHow in 2006 to Demand Media.[9] Herrick described the difference between eHow and wikiHow as "eating a McDonald's burger vs. a wonderful, home cooked meal."[10]

In 2006, the non-profit foundation One Laptop per Child chose wikiHow as one of the content sources for the educational laptops it distributed around the world.[11] On September 21, 2007, the website's 25,000th article was published.[12] In 2009, after completing a redesign the site surpassed 20 million monthly visitors with 25 million page views.[13] In 2014, Google chose wikiHow as one of the launch partners for Google Contributor, an ad-free Internet product.[14] In 2016, wikiHow reached 100 million monthly visitors.[15]

On March 24, 2016, wikiHow acquired Guidecentral, a website focused on instructions for "hands-on" projects.[16] The acquisition's terms were not released; however, Guidecentral raised over $1 million from investors, including NXTP Labs, Enterprise Ireland, and South Ventures.[17]

Operations

wikiHow provides instructional content on a wide range of topics.[18] As of December 2021, it contains over 235,000 articles. Articles typically follow a standardized format to detail the step-by-step process of completing a task or accomplishing a specific outcome. Images serve as visual aids and may be created by users or contracted staff.

The MediaWiki software allows users to add, delete, and otherwise modify content. Like other wikis, quality control is achieved by reviewing edits via the "Recent Changes" page and using a diff feature to compare revisions of an article and highlight changes in the content.[19] Other users review these changes and may accept or reject the edits based on guidelines regarding content and style.

To provide an authoritative review and ensure reliability of the content, staff writers also consult with subject-matter experts, particularly in topics such as health and medicine, law, finance, and psychology.[20] [21] In 2021, wikiHow partnered with the United Nations to launch a campaign against COVID-19 misinformation.[22]

Among the volunteer editing community, a number of trusted users, known as administrators, may be tasked with responsibilities pertaining to the maintenance and smooth operation of the website. Functionally similar to administrators on Wikipedia and internet forum moderators, these users have elevated account privileges used to delete articles, block other users from editing, and perform various maintenance tasks.[23]

Business model

At the time of launch, wikiHow's startup costs were, to some extent, financed from Herrick's sale of eHow. The website has since relied on advertising on its pages for revenue. wikiHow is run as a "hybrid organization"—a "for-profit company focused on creating a global public good in accordance with [the] mission".[24]

Initially and throughout its history, Herrick has declined financial donations to wikiHow.[25] However, in mid-2020 as a response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company began soliciting contributions to support wikiHow.[26] Later that year, wikiHow released a subscription service called "wikiHow Pro", which allows access to paywalled features such as custom PDF downloads of articles and email-based courses created by subject-matter experts.

Licensing

wikiHow's text content is published under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 (by-nc-sa 3.0) license, allowing it to be modified and reused for non-commercial purposes as long as the original authors are attributed and the license is not substantially changed. Authors retain full copyright to their content, may publish it elsewhere under different licenses, and grant wikiHow an irrevocable license to use it for any purpose.[27]

Opt-out ads

wikiHow lets readers control whether advertising appears alongside content. Registered, logged-in users do not see ads,[28] [29] except those from external video providers.[30]

In November 2014, it was announced that wikiHow would participate in Google Contributor, a service allowing website users to make monthly donations to support their favorite websites and not be required to see ads on them.[31]

Reception

wikiHow has won multiple awards, including a Webby Award for Community in 2009,[32] and the Co-Creation award in the Open Innovation competition, organized by The Guardian and Nesta in 2010.[33] Mashable selected wikiHow as runner-up for best wiki in its Open Web Awards in 2008.[34] In October 2018, Gizmodo included wikiHow in its list of "100 Websites That Shaped the Internet as We Know It", referring to it as "a consistently useful resource."[35] More recently, Forbes recognized wikiHow in its list of "The Best Small Companies Of 2019".[36]

A PBS journalist reported that the "wikiHow app has an excellent set of articles to help you in just about any situation, from helping someone who is choking to handling vehicle emergencies, to natural disasters."[37] The New York Times reported: "Type in a few key words about the problem into the app’s Search page and the guide will return some advice. Its information pages are clear and well laid out. They begin with an introductory description, then offer a list of steps to follow. The app displays the necessary tools and items, and includes tips and warnings."[38] Lifehacker has described wikiHow as the "ever-handy guide site."[39] wikiHow has been positively described in many other media, including Inc. Magazine,[40] Cosmopolitan,[41] TechRepublic,[42] Condé Nast Traveler[43] and PC Magazine.[44]

wikiHow has also been the target of satire and criticism for its notable abundance of arguably eccentric articles. For example, American Public Radio show Wits has a segment called "wikiHow theater", where actors read obvious or ludicrous wikiHow topics, such as "How to Make People Respect Your Pet", for comic effect.[45] Two accomplished poets published a book called "How To Feel Confident with Your Special Talents", where each poem's title is taken directly from a wikiHow article.[46] Vice parodied wikiHow's article "How to Break Up with Your Boyfriend".[47] The Huffington Post created a list of bizarre life skills, such as "How to React to an Ugly Baby", that "you could only learn from wikiHow".[48] Other publishers have criticized wikiHow for hosting instructions on topics of questionable social value, such as "How to get a thigh gap"[49] and "How to stop a wedding".[50] Other websites have created "worst of wikiHow" lists to highlight topics that are "deranged",[51] "brilliantly bizarre"[52] and otherwise controversial.

The artwork of wikiHow’s illustrations has received mixed reception among internet users, with some praising the representation of various minority groups, while others ridicule the bizarre and uncanny depictions. In an interview with OneZero, Chris Hadley, Vice President of Operations, stated that the illustrations are created by freelance artists typically outside of the US.[53]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: wikiHow:Language Projects - wikiHow. www.wikihow.com. en. 2017-08-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20170816110035/http://www.wikihow.com/wikiHow:Language-Projects. August 16, 2017. live.
  2. Web site: wikiHow:Terms of Use – wikiHow . www.wikihow.com . 9 June 2022.
  3. Web site: Wayback Machine [for src.wikihow.com] ]. 2 November 2023.
  4. Web site: wikiHow Source code distribution . wikiHow . 25 July 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100725200034/http://src.wikihow.com/ . 2 November 2023. July 25, 2010 .
  5. Web site: Taking down src.wikihow.com - Village Pump - wikiHow . Reuben Smith . 18 November 2020 . 2 November 2023.
  6. News: Levine. Robert. 4 September 2006. New York Times: New Web Sites Seeking Profit in Wiki Model. The New York Times. 12 February 2010.
  7. Web site: Herrick. Jack. Post on Herrick's Google+ page. Google+. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150410045815/https://plus.google.com/+JackHerrick/posts/4ur3nT2pvo7. April 10, 2015. live.
  8. News: Levine. Robert. New Web Sites Seeking Profit in Wiki Model. The New York Times. September 4, 2006 . 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20170701110210/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/04/technology/04wiki.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0. July 1, 2017. live.
  9. Web site: Roush. Wade. How To Build a "Lifestyle Business" with 30 Million Visitors Per Month: The wikiHow Story. Xconomy. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221100145/http://www.xconomy.com/national/2011/12/16/how-to-build-a-lifestyle-business-with-30m-visitors-per-month/?single_page=true. February 21, 2015. live.
  10. Web site: ReadWriteWeb: wikiHow vs. eHow: Is the Wiki Way Better Than Content Farms?. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100213184219/http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/wikihow_vs_ehow_is_the_wiki_way_better_than_content_farms.php. 13 February 2010. 12 February 2010.
  11. Web site: 2B1: "WikiHow" Content Comes Preloaded. OLPC News. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221101724/http://www.olpcnews.com/content/reference/2b1_to_have_wikihow_content_preloaded.html. February 21, 2015. live.
  12. Web site: Rojer . Rebecca . October 2, 2007 . wikiHow Reaches 25,000 Articles . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20151110134026/http://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/7700 . November 10, 2015 . 21 February 2015 . Creative Commons.
  13. Web site: Schonfeld. Erick. WikiHow Gets Pretty, And Hits 20 Million Monthly Visitors. TechCrunch. December 9, 2009 . 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20170708012251/https://techcrunch.com/2009/12/09/wikihow-redesign-20-million/. July 8, 2017. live.
  14. Web site: Ingraham. Nathan. Google Contributor will let you pay a monthly fee to see select websites without ads. The Verge. November 20, 2014. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20170708212154/https://www.theverge.com/2014/11/20/7255779/google-contributor-will-let-you-pay-to-see-sites-without-ads. July 8, 2017. live.
  15. Web site: wikihow . 2016-03-24 . wikiHow Acquires Guidecentral & Announces 100 Million Monthly Users . 2023-09-03 . Tumblr.
  16. Web site: Anders. George. Can WikiHow Rule Mobile? Watch This Acquisition Closely. Forbes. 15 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170901033511/https://www.forbes.com/sites/georgeanders/2016/03/24/can-wikihow-rule-mobile-watch-this-acquisition-closely/#63e271de61cd. September 1, 2017. live.
  17. Web site: Newenham. Pamela. WikiHow acquires Dublin start-up Guidecentral. The Irish Times. 15 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220175457/http://www.irishtimes.com/business/companies/wikihow-acquires-dublin-start-up-guidecentral-1.2585878. December 20, 2016. live.
  18. News: Huang. Keira. How-to site wikiHow builds Chinese-language presence. South China Morning Post. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221101803/http://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/1309191/how-site-wikihow-builds-chinese-language-presence. February 21, 2015. live.
  19. Web site: How to Patrol Recent Changes on wikiHow. wikiHow. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221095811/http://www.wikihow.com/Patrol-Recent-Changes-on-wikiHow. February 21, 2015. live.
  20. Web site: Delivering a Trustworthy Experience. 2021-12-03. www.wikihow.com.
  21. Web site: wikiHow Experts. 2021-12-03. www.wikihow.com.
  22. Web site: 2021-11-25. Are you sure you want to share that? Sorting online fact from fiction. 2021-12-03. UN News. en.
  23. Web site: wikiHow:Administrators. December 3, 2021. wikiHow.
  24. Web site: wikiHow:Hybrid Organization . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211125110332/https://www.wikihow.com/wikiHow:Hybrid-Organization . 25 November 2021 . 21 February 2015 . wikiHow.
  25. Web site: wikiHow:Hybrid Organization - wikiHow. wikiHow. December 4, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20191016133632/https://www.wikihow.com/wikiHow:Hybrid-Organization. October 16, 2019. live.
  26. Web site: Contribute. 2020-08-01. www.wikihow.com.
  27. Web site: Terms of Use. wikiHow. https://web.archive.org/web/20100113113655/http://www.wikihow.com/Terms-of-Use . January 13, 2010. live.
  28. Web site: wikiHow:Why Hide Ads?. wikiHow. https://web.archive.org/web/20090421201537/http://www.wikihow.com/wikiHow:Why-Hide-Ads . April 21, 2009. live. .
  29. News: Turning the Ads Off . January 30, 2009 . Digits (blogs.wsj.com) . The Wall Street Journal . Marisa . Taylor . August 4, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180612181700/https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/01/30/turning-the-ads-off/ . June 12, 2018 . live .
  30. [wikihow:wikiHow:Video-Curation#Video Curation Tips|wikiHow:Video Curation#Video Curation Tips]
  31. News: Gibbs. Samuel. Google Contributor: can I really pay to remove ads?. The Guardian. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20170304211104/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/nov/21/google-contributor-pay-remove-ads. March 4, 2017. live.
  32. Web site: wikiHow. The Webby Awards. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221103229/http://www.webbyawards.com/winners/2009/web/general-website-categories/community/wikihow/. February 21, 2015. live.
  33. News: Keegan. Victor. Open innovation is coming of age. The Guardian. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20170218070355/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/apr/14/open-innovation-victor-keegan. February 18, 2017. live.
  34. Web site: The 2nd Annual Open Web Awards. Mashable. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20120420171330/http://mashable.com/openwebawards/the-winners/. April 20, 2012. live.
  35. Web site: 100 Websites That Shaped the Internet as We Know It. Gizmodo. October 19, 2018 . 23 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190709195347/https://gizmodo.com/100-websites-that-shaped-the-internet-as-we-know-it-1829634771. July 9, 2019. live.
  36. Web site: Forbes Small Giants: The Best Small Companies Of 2019. Forbes. 23 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190624113757/https://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2019/04/30/forbes-small-giants-the-best-small-companies-of-2019/#319ef65d382c. June 24, 2019. live.
  37. Web site: Clarke. Michael. How to Stay Safe While Reporting from Hostile (and Not So Hostile) Environments. PBS. May 14, 2014. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150318215234/http://www.pbs.org/idealab/2014/05/how-to-stay-safe-while-reporting-from-hostile-and-not-so-hostile-environments/. March 18, 2015. live.
  38. News: Eaton. Kit. Guiding D.I.Y. Home Repairs, or Summoning the Pros. 21 February 2015. The New York Times. November 28, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170701100130/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/29/technology/personaltech/apps-for-home-repairs-for-the-handy-and-the-less-so.html?_r=0. July 1, 2017. live.
  39. Web site: Fitzpatrick. Jason. Get Spray Paint Off Your Car. Lifehacker. October 31, 2009 . 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221094611/http://lifehacker.com/5394013/get-spray-paint-off-your-car. February 21, 2015. live.
  40. Web site: Demarais . Christina . November 8, 2012 . WikiHow's Recipe for Success . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150221102521/http://www.inc.com/christina-desmarais/can-hybrid-companies-change-the-world.html . February 21, 2015 . 21 February 2015 . Inc..
  41. Web site: Las mejores apps DIY (Do It Yourself). Cosmopolitan (Spanish website). 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221100918/http://www.cosmopolitantv.es/noticias/2216/las-mejores-apps-diy-do-it-yourself. February 21, 2015. live.
  42. Web site: Bahny. Wally. Five Web Apps to make you smarter. TechRepublic. January 7, 2013 . 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221095706/http://www.techrepublic.com/pictures/five-web-apps-to-make-you-smarter/1/. February 21, 2015. live.
  43. Web site: Chase. Jon. In Case of Travel Emergency, Download These Apps. Conde Nast Traveler. June 12, 2014. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221100235/http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/2014-06-12/travel-emergency-apps?s_cid=social_20140613_25924356. February 21, 2015. live.
  44. Web site: Lendino. Jamie. Hands On with the Latest Palm Pre Apps. PC Magazine. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20170712211707/https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2352570,00.asp. July 12, 2017. live.
  45. Web site: American Public Media Presents: Wits. Wits Radio. 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221100655/http://www.witsradio.org/episodes/hanks-misty/. February 21, 2015. live.
  46. Web site: Pair of English profs from WWU to tagteam reading at Village Books. https://archive.today/20150221011154/http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2014/05/28/3654637_pair-of-english-profs-from-wwu.html?rh=1. dead. 21 February 2015. The Bellingham Herald. 21 February 2015.
  47. Web site: Kotsoni. Elektra. How to Break Up with Your Boyfriend. Vice. September 8, 2014 . 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20161104143206/http://www.vice.com/read/how-to-break-up-with-your-boyfriend-wikihow-876. November 4, 2016. live.
  48. News: Scherker. Amanda. 11 Bizarre Life Skills You Could Only Learn From Wikihow. 21 February 2015. The Huffington Post. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221094512/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/01/life-skills-wikihow_n_4164954.html. February 21, 2015. live.
  49. News: Kotz. Deborah. Weekly challenge: Stop striving for a "thigh gap" or six-pack abs. 21 February 2015. The Boston Globe. https://web.archive.org/web/20170629181923/http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2013/08/19/weekly-challenge-stop-striving-for-thigh-gap-six-pack-abs/Adp4xJR87avTxJTUh2x5rO/story.html. June 29, 2017. live.
  50. Web site: Tedesco . Austin . Thanks Internet! WikiHow Gives You a Step-by-Step Guide to Stopping a Wedding . https://web.archive.org/web/20150221095951/http://www.boston.com/life/2014/05/07/thanks-internet-wikihow-gives-you-step-step-guide-stopping-wedding/DyXx9CqfaXVmBJcNMvgApO/story.html . February 21, 2015 . 21 February 2015 . Boston.com.
  51. Web site: Beusman. Callie. 15 Utterly Deranged Wikihow How-To Guides. Jezebel. May 9, 2014 . 21 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221103214/http://jezebel.com/15-utterly-deranged-wikihow-how-to-guides-1573131810. February 21, 2015. live.
  52. Web site: Hyde . Fiona . 9 brilliantly bizarre WikiHow articles that will fix all your life problems . https://web.archive.org/web/20150221095454/http://www.dailyedge.ie/weird-wikihow-articles-1478409-Jun2014/ . February 21, 2015 . 21 February 2015 . The Daily Edge.
  53. News: Slattery. Peter. We Finally Figured Out Who Makes wikiHow's Bizarre Art. OneZero. live. 24 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20201130183442/https://onezero.medium.com/we-finally-figured-out-who-makes-wikihows-bizarre-art-6c5d69b71347. November 30, 2020.

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