Is Wikipedia a reliable source of information?

 

"Wikipedia is about as good a source of accurate information as Britannica, the venerable standard-bearer of facts about the world around us, according to a study published this week in the journal Nature."

Where do you go when you need to know something?  In this age of information and technology, there are a lot of choices out there.  Which websites should you trust as reliable sources?   How can we know the information they provide is accurate and true?  

One of the most popular websites in the world, Wikipedia has been controversial since it's start.  We've all had at least one person tell us not to trust Wikipedia, because anyone can edit it.  However, does that really mean it's less accurate?

Study: Wikipedia as accurate as Britannica

 

=

Instructions:  

Read the three linked articles (above and in the questions below).  Answer all five questions in a comment.  Do not repeat what others have already said.  Contribute your own relevant, unique viewpoint to the conversation.

1. Although anyone can sign in and edit Wikipedia, what keeps false information from remaining on the site?
2. Had you ever heard of the Encyclopedia Britannica before today?
3. Notice the year that the article (above) was published.  Do you think Wikipedia has become more or less accurate since then?  (Hint:  read this 2015 article from the Washington Post)
4. Summarize what Wikipedia says about itself in terms of reliability:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliability_of_Wikipedia
5. Do these articles and studies change your opinion of Wikipedia as a source?  Why or why not?