The Internet is an incredibly popular source of information for scholars and the general public, which is why a potential permanent blackout of one of the world's largest free online encyclopedias bares disastrous consequences, as shown by 'A World Without Wikipedia.'
Created by Online University, the infographic explains the effects of Wikipedia's blackout on January 18, 2012, in protest of SOPA -- the Stop Online Piracy Act -- that, if passed, would force Wikipedia to remove all sources and copyrighted information from its articles. As the illustrated graph shows, the shutdown of the English language Wikipedia would affect the 744,572 writers currently working on its English articles, not to mention the millions of web users who read the information.
While online piracy is an important issue, A World Without Wikipedia shows that there must be a better way to regulate the sharing of copyrighted material online, without affecting the public's ability to access a world of knowledge and information for free.
Woeful Web Blackouts
'A World Without Wikipedia' Examines the SOPA Protest
Trend Themes
1. Regulating Online Sharing - Exploring alternative ways to regulate the sharing of copyrighted material online while preserving public access to knowledge and information.
2. Internet Blackouts - Examining the potential consequences of internet blackouts on the accessibility of information and the effects on users and contributors.
3. Protesting Legislation - Highlighting the impact and effectiveness of online protests as a means to raise awareness and advocate for change in legislative matters.
Industry Implications
1. Education - Identifying opportunities for educational institutions and organizations to develop innovative platforms and resources for online learning and information dissemination.
2. Technology - Exploring ways for technology companies to develop secure and efficient systems for regulating copyrighted material while ensuring minimal disruption to access and usability.
3. Media - Understanding how media organizations can leverage online protests and public sentiment to influence policy-making and promote balanced copyright legislation that supports information accessibility.