The Struggle to Define Notability in the Creator Revolution

The Struggle to Define Notability in the Creator Revolution

In the vast world of online content creation, there is a constant battle for recognition and credibility. One platform that has been at the center of this struggle is Wikipedia. As a Wikipedia contributor, I am well aware of the controversial issue surrounding notability. What exactly constitutes a "reliable" secondary source? And how do we determine the border between what is notable and what is not?

Currently, out of the 1.7 million biographies on Wikipedia, only 20% feature women. This disparity raises questions about the subjective nature of notability. To address this, Wikipedia has set detailed guidelines for satisfying notability. The more reputable and secondary media coverage a biographical subject has, the more likely their biography will be approved. However, this approach still leaves room for subjectivity.

One example that highlights the struggle with notability is the case of Kkatamina, the third-most followed creator on an app with approximately 700 million global users. Despite her massive following, Wikipedia did not consider her notable enough because the publications that reported on her record-breaking achievement were not deemed reputable by the platform. This raises the question of what constitutes a reputable source and whether mainstream publications should be the sole criteria for notability.

It is crucial to recognize that content creators themselves establish their own notability through their impact and audience growth. In fact, studies have shown that 92% of consumers trust an influencer's product recommendation more than a celebrity endorsement. This shift in consumer trust signifies the growing influence of creators in today's digital landscape.

However, the system of notability on Wikipedia seems to be gatekept by a small group of editors, the majority of whom are male. This lack of diversity among editors can influence the content on the platform and perpetuate biases. As one editor, Natureium, wrote in 2019, "I guess that's the problem with Wikipedia. We cover what reliable sources cover." This statement highlights the interconnectedness between Wikipedia and mainstream media, as they both influence and shape each other's content.

As the Creator Revolution continues to gain momentum, the struggle to define a creator's notability on platforms like Wikipedia will only intensify. The future of documentation and history relies heavily on how creators are recognized and represented in these online spaces. It is imperative that we question the existing system and contemplate how creators fit into this evolving landscape.