Meta-Wiki facts for kids
Meta-Wiki (also known as Wikimedia Meta or just Meta) is a special wiki that holds important information for all the projects run by the Wikimedia Foundation. Think of it as a central meeting place for all the different Wikimedia websites, like Wikipedia. If you are on Wikipedia, you can find a quick link to Meta-Wiki by typing "m:".
Meta-Wiki is a key part of how the Wikimedia projects work together. It helps volunteers and staff from all over the world share ideas, make decisions, and coordinate their efforts. It's where many of the rules and guidelines for all Wikimedia sites are discussed and created.
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What is Meta-Wiki's Purpose?
Meta-Wiki acts like a central hub for all the Wikimedia projects. Its main goal is to help people who work on these projects communicate and cooperate. This includes volunteers, editors, and staff members from different countries and projects.
How Does Meta-Wiki Help Wikimedia Projects?
Meta-Wiki helps in many ways. It is a place where people can discuss ideas for new projects or improvements to existing ones. It also helps set up rules and guidelines that apply to all Wikimedia sites. This makes sure that all projects work smoothly and fairly.
Coordinating Global Wikimedia Projects
One important role of Meta-Wiki is to help coordinate projects that involve many different language Wikipedias or other Wikimedia sites. For example, if there's a new feature being planned for Wikipedia, the discussions about it often happen on Meta-Wiki. This allows everyone to give their input.
Developing Wikimedia Policies
Many of the big rules and policies for Wikimedia projects are discussed and decided on Meta-Wiki. These policies cover things like how content should be licensed, how to handle conflicts between users, or how to protect user privacy. It's where the community works together to create a fair and safe environment for everyone.
Who Uses Meta-Wiki?
Meta-Wiki is used by a wide range of people involved in the Wikimedia movement. This includes volunteers, editors, and administrators from various projects, as well as staff members of the Wikimedia Foundation.
Volunteers and Editors
Many volunteers who edit Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, or other projects use Meta-Wiki. They might go there to discuss issues, propose new ideas, or participate in global elections for community roles. It's a place where their voices can be heard across the entire movement.
Wikimedia Foundation Staff
Staff members of the Wikimedia Foundation also use Meta-Wiki to share information with the community. They might post updates about technical developments, financial reports, or plans for future projects. It helps keep the community informed about the work of the Foundation.
What Kind of Information Can You Find on Meta-Wiki?
Meta-Wiki is a huge collection of information related to the Wikimedia movement. It has pages about project guidelines, community discussions, and even historical records of how Wikimedia has grown.
Important Guidelines and Policies
You can find many important guidelines and policies on Meta-Wiki. These include rules about how to use images, how to handle copyright, and how to make sure content is neutral and factual. These guidelines help maintain the quality and reliability of all Wikimedia projects.
Community Discussions and Proposals
Meta-Wiki is a very active place for discussions. People propose new ideas, debate changes to existing rules, and talk about the future of Wikimedia. These discussions are open to everyone and help shape the direction of the projects.
Global Requests and Elections
Sometimes, there are global requests or elections that affect all Wikimedia projects. For example, people might apply for special permissions that work across different wikis, or the community might vote for representatives in certain roles. These processes often take place on Meta-Wiki.
How to Access Meta-Wiki
You can easily access Meta-Wiki through its official website. If you are already on a Wikimedia project like Wikipedia, you can often find links to Meta-Wiki within discussions or policy pages.
- Official website
