User:2TeachWiki/Getting Started

Identity vs. Anonymity

Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation do not require that editors identify themselves by their legal names or by providing private information to confirm their identity. Editors may establish accounts in any of the following ways (in order of likelihood that the Wikipedia account will be linked to other activities):

Account name = real name (or a variation of real name)

The level of privacy is dependent on how common one's name is, and how much personal information one provides on-wiki or elsewhere. Real names can be easily linked to other internet references.

Account name = pseudonym used for internet interaction on multiple sites, or easily found on search engines

The level of privacy is dependent on where else the pseudonym is used, and what personal information has been provided on-wiki or on the other sites. Even if it may not lead directly to a real life identity, other activities may be identified or a profile gradually constructed.

Account name = IP address (i.e. no account name)

IP addresses can vary in level of anonymity. IP allocation on some ISPs changes very quickly, whereas others can remain stable for months or years. Some countries have a very limited roster of IP addresses. Many businesses have dedicated IP addresses that, when checked, will reveal the corporate name and location. Because the IP is displayed in the edit history it may be easier to uncover the editor's real life identity than it would be when a pseudonymous username is employed.

Account name = pseudonym specific to Wikipedia/Wikimedia activities only

The level of privacy is dependent on what personal information is provided on-wiki, as long as the Wikipedia identity is not discussed off-wiki. This is likely the most secure method of editing Wikipedia and has the lowest risk of the Wikipedia identity being linked to the real life identity.

The opportunity to edit without linking to a person's real world identity provides a degree of confidentiality to those who could be placed at risk if they edited using their legal names. "Risk" means different things to different people. In some cases, there is genuine risk to physical safety, career, or personal reputation. See also Wikipedia is in the real world. This confidentiality is not guaranteed, however, and is largely dependent on editors withholding personal information about themselves.

Creating a Wikipedia Account

Benefits of Having an Account

Create your own user page
Practice and edit in a Sandbox
Communicate with others via talk pages
Start new pages
Rename pages and upload images
View a list of all your contributions (edits)
Create a watchlist monitor your changes
Edit semi-protected pages
Use more advanced editing tools
Vote for the Picture of the Year
Use VisualEditor

* Some features will not be available until an account is autoconfirmed. User accounts that are more than four days old and have made at least 10 edits are considered autoconfirmed.

How to Create Your Wikipedia Account

Click on Create Account above the search box on the top right of Wikipedia or go to Create Account Main Page

Create a Username
All contributions will be attributed to the chosen username. This will be visible to other people. Keep that in mind if you use your own name.

Create a strong password you can remember

It can be whatever you want it to be

Wikipedia does not have password restrictions

Enter your email address

Must do this to retrieve forgotten passwords

Really, it is the only way to access your account if you forget your password