In the digital age, most notable individuals and companies understand the importance of online reputation management. While Wikipedia claims to be the open encyclopedia and police editing by subjects of articles, that has allowed people with resources to game the system by hiring professional Wikipedia editing services to ensure their reputations are carefully maintained and managed on the world’s largest online encyclopedia.
This trend is not only reshaping the landscape of online reputation management but also highlighting how even Wikipedia can be manipulated by those with an incentive and means.
Wikipedia, with its massive reach and authoritative status, has become a critical platform for online reputation management. However, navigating its complex guidelines and editing policies can be a daunting task. Most who try to edit their own pages are quickly discovered and foiled and find a “conflict of interest” banner slapped on their pages.
Meanwhile, those with means are able to play by different rules. They hire one of a plethora of professional Wikipedia editing services. The demand for such services has seen a significant rise in recent years. Notable figures and businesses are increasingly hiring these experts to ensure their Wikipedia pages reflect an accurate and positive image. The process involves not just writing and editing, but also monitoring the pages for any changes and making necessary updates.
We investigated, posing as a potential client, to discover how these shadowy operators manipulate Wikipedia to suit the whims of the rich and powerful. As we began discussions, multiple sources pointed us to WikiVerification.com, which markets itself as a U.S.-based professional Wikipedia editing service. The company offers a range of plans for creating and editing Wikipedia articles, catering to its clients various needs.
They offer a profound understanding of Wikipedia’s rules and the expertise to create and edit content that adheres to these guidelines.
After we identified ourselves, Ellery Takamoto, a rep at WikiVerification.com, refused comment beyond stating that. “Wikipedia is a powerful tool for shaping online reputations. Our job is to help our clients navigate this process and ensure their Wikipedia presence is managed effectively and influenced to reflect the public image they want,” he said. He also added that “privacy and discretion are of the utmost importance to our clients so we have no further comment.”
Clearly, those with means have determined that professional Wikipedia editing services are valuable. It’s unclear who specifically is hiring these services but Wiki Verification’s website lists testimonials from a developer boasting of silencing activists, a startup CEO who curated her own company’s article, and even an influencer. It’s hard to argue that Wikipedia doesn’t offer a level of reliability and authenticity that is hard to achieve otherwise.
By writing content that gets passed the Wikipedia editing community, these professional Wikipedia editors are able to manipulate the internet’s encyclopedia and bypass Wikipedia’s stringent guidelines.
Meanwhile, they also offer ongoing monitoring and updates, a crucial aspect given Wikipedia’s open-editing nature. The rise of professional Wikipedia editing services signifies a particularly underhanded note, even in the shadowy realm of online reputation management.
As more and more individuals and businesses opt for these services, it’s clear that professional Wikipedia editing is an area that Wikipedia has not sufficiently grappled with and how those with power are manipulating the information accessed by millions.
