25-Year-Old Wikipedia Resists Change: Is Its Future at Risk?

The Internal Conflict of a Digital Giant

Wikipedia, considered one of the internet's most reliable sources of information, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month. However, in the shadow of the celebrations, a crisis of institutional resistance is unfolding, threatening the platform's future. The volunteer editor community's swift rejection of innovation attempts aimed at appealing to a new generation of readers is raising questions about Wikipedia's capacity to adapt to the changing digital world.

Simple Summary Experiment and Harsh Backlash

Last June, the Wikimedia Foundation launched a modest experiment called 'Simple Article Summaries'. This system, consisting of AI-generated and unverified simple summaries placed at the top of complex articles, was only available to mobile users and was clearly labeled.

However, the volunteer editor community gave the experiment almost no time. Particularly on English Wikipedia, editors shut down the system on the very day it was launched. The reactions were quite harsh; editors described the experiment as a 'terrifying idea' and warned that it would cause 'immediate and irreversible damage' to Wikipedia's credibility.

Similar Crises in History and Different Outcomes

The Simple Summaries crisis is not the first disagreement in Wikipedia's history. VisualEditor, launched in 2013 with the aim of making editing easier for new users, led to protests due to technical issues and caused experienced editors to distance themselves from the platform. However, at that time, a compromise was reached through internal community discussions and voting.

Similar community processes had worked for other controversial issues, such as Media Viewer in 2014 and the visual filter referendum in 2011. Experts interpret the immediate suppression of the 2025 Simple Summaries crisis as a departure from the more constructive discussion culture of the past.

Intergenerational Divide and Future Concerns

At the heart of the crisis lies an intergenerational divide regarding Wikipedia's format. The platform still adheres to a format reminiscent of the 2001-era Encyclopaedia Britannica style, based on long texts and dense information. However, today's Gen Z and Alpha generation readers are accustomed to visual and mobile-focused platforms like TikTok and YouTube.

Research by the Wikimedia Foundation shows that many readers value quick summaries before diving into articles. The use of AI tools to meet this need has become part of the broader debate on AI ethics.

The Sustainability Problem of the Volunteer Model

Wikipedia faces a deeper crisis: the sustainability of free labor. The platform was built by volunteers who could spare time, energy, and idealism. However, this volunteer base is aging. A 2010 study showed the average active editor was 26 years old, while 2022 data indicates this age has risen to 35.

Experts warn that if Wikipedia cannot attract a new generation of participants, not only its format but its fundamental operating model could be at risk. The 25-year-old digital giant is caught between changing reader habits, an aging editor community, and the institutional resistance shown towards innovations.