There are multiple types of content moderation carried out on Wikipedia, described below:
Unregistered or newly registered | Confirmed or autoconfirmed | Extended confirmed | Template editor | Admin | Interface admin | Appropriate for (See also: Wikipedia:Protection policy) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No protection | Normal editing | The vast majority of pages. This is the default protection level. | |||||
Pending changes | All users can edit Edits by unregistered or new editors (and any subsequent edits by anyone) are hidden from readers who are not logged in, until reviewed by a pending changes reviewer or admin. Logged-in editors see all edits, whether accepted or not. |
Infrequently edited pages with high levels of vandalism, BLP violations, edit-warring, or other disruption from unregistered and new users. | |||||
Semi | Cannot edit | Normal editing | Pages that have been persistently vandalized by anonymous and registered users. Some highly visible templates and modules. | ||||
Extended confirmed | Cannot edit | Normal editing* | Specific topic areas authorized by ArbCom, pages where semi-protection has failed, or high-risk templates where template protection would be too restrictive. | ||||
Template | Cannot edit | Normal editing | High-risk or very-frequently used templates and modules. Some high-risk pages outside of template space. | ||||
Full | Cannot edit | Normal editing | Pages with persistent disruption from extended confirmed accounts. Critical templates and modules. | ||||
Interface | Cannot edit | Normal editing | Scripts, stylesheets, and similar objects central to operation of the site or that are in other editors' user spaces. | ||||
* In order to edit through extended confirmed protection, a template editor must also be extended confirmed, but in practice this is almost always the case. Other modes of protection: |
The primary methods of identifying problematic content are:
In addition:
The chart below discusses various potentially harmful content types and the manner in which it is addressed on English Wikipedia. Preferred method is bolded. Examples are provided where appropriate (using quotation marks), and are all fictional.
Content type/example | Edit/Revert | RevDelete | Suppression | Other/Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Insulting content directed at a third party or
article subject |
"John Smith is a jerk" | "John Smith jerks off in the school
washroom" |
"John Smith rapes babies" |
Dependent on circumstances, may also result in a warning or block. If edit
qualifies for suppression, user will probably be blocked. User may be "Oversight- blocked" if they continue to post the suppressed material after warning/block. |
Insulting content directed at an editor | "You're a dick" | "You're a f**king dick who wouldn't
know his ass from a hole in the ground" |
"You're a f**cking dick who rapes babies
in your spare time" |
(As above) |
Non-public information about article subject,
third party, or editor |
(revert and report to OS
or admin) |
(revdelete and report to OS) | Examples: Phone numbers, addresses,
non-public names/DOB of offspring, "outing" of editors, |
(As above) |
Threat of self-harm ("I am going to kill myself") | (revert and report to OS
or admin, can also notify emergency@) |
(revdelete and report to OS, can also notify
emergency@) |
Suppress and notify emergency@ | emergency@ is an email address monitored 24/7 by WMF Trust & Safety staff,
who analyse the edit and contact appropriate Emergency Services. |
Threat of harm to other individuals/locations
("I am going to shoot John Smith", "XYZ School will be bombed on Thursday", "I will be waiting outside your workplace tonight") |
(revert and report to OS
or admin, can also notify emergency@) |
(revdelete and report to OS, can also notify
emergency@) |
Suppress and notify emergency@ | T&S will likely attempt to communicate with editor if editor is the subject of the
threat, other editors who are close to the threatened editor may also reach out. |
There are multiple types of content moderation carried out on Wikipedia, described below:
Unregistered or newly registered | Confirmed or autoconfirmed | Extended confirmed | Template editor | Admin | Interface admin | Appropriate for (See also: Wikipedia:Protection policy) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No protection | Normal editing | The vast majority of pages. This is the default protection level. | |||||
Pending changes | All users can edit Edits by unregistered or new editors (and any subsequent edits by anyone) are hidden from readers who are not logged in, until reviewed by a pending changes reviewer or admin. Logged-in editors see all edits, whether accepted or not. |
Infrequently edited pages with high levels of vandalism, BLP violations, edit-warring, or other disruption from unregistered and new users. | |||||
Semi | Cannot edit | Normal editing | Pages that have been persistently vandalized by anonymous and registered users. Some highly visible templates and modules. | ||||
Extended confirmed | Cannot edit | Normal editing* | Specific topic areas authorized by ArbCom, pages where semi-protection has failed, or high-risk templates where template protection would be too restrictive. | ||||
Template | Cannot edit | Normal editing | High-risk or very-frequently used templates and modules. Some high-risk pages outside of template space. | ||||
Full | Cannot edit | Normal editing | Pages with persistent disruption from extended confirmed accounts. Critical templates and modules. | ||||
Interface | Cannot edit | Normal editing | Scripts, stylesheets, and similar objects central to operation of the site or that are in other editors' user spaces. | ||||
* In order to edit through extended confirmed protection, a template editor must also be extended confirmed, but in practice this is almost always the case. Other modes of protection: |
The primary methods of identifying problematic content are:
In addition:
The chart below discusses various potentially harmful content types and the manner in which it is addressed on English Wikipedia. Preferred method is bolded. Examples are provided where appropriate (using quotation marks), and are all fictional.
Content type/example | Edit/Revert | RevDelete | Suppression | Other/Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Insulting content directed at a third party or
article subject |
"John Smith is a jerk" | "John Smith jerks off in the school
washroom" |
"John Smith rapes babies" |
Dependent on circumstances, may also result in a warning or block. If edit
qualifies for suppression, user will probably be blocked. User may be "Oversight- blocked" if they continue to post the suppressed material after warning/block. |
Insulting content directed at an editor | "You're a dick" | "You're a f**king dick who wouldn't
know his ass from a hole in the ground" |
"You're a f**cking dick who rapes babies
in your spare time" |
(As above) |
Non-public information about article subject,
third party, or editor |
(revert and report to OS
or admin) |
(revdelete and report to OS) | Examples: Phone numbers, addresses,
non-public names/DOB of offspring, "outing" of editors, |
(As above) |
Threat of self-harm ("I am going to kill myself") | (revert and report to OS
or admin, can also notify emergency@) |
(revdelete and report to OS, can also notify
emergency@) |
Suppress and notify emergency@ | emergency@ is an email address monitored 24/7 by WMF Trust & Safety staff,
who analyse the edit and contact appropriate Emergency Services. |
Threat of harm to other individuals/locations
("I am going to shoot John Smith", "XYZ School will be bombed on Thursday", "I will be waiting outside your workplace tonight") |
(revert and report to OS
or admin, can also notify emergency@) |
(revdelete and report to OS, can also notify
emergency@) |
Suppress and notify emergency@ | T&S will likely attempt to communicate with editor if editor is the subject of the
threat, other editors who are close to the threatened editor may also reach out. |