Wikipedia’s front page ten years evolution: Gender gap and implicit bias in biographies and editorial policies

Wikipedia, as one of the world’s most visited digital web pages, serves as a global provider of knowledge. However, it is not immune to societal biases, including the gender gap that has been a persistent issue. We conducted a decade-long analysis (2013-2023) of 4,218 main pages from the English and Spanish editions of Wikipedia. Our study explores implicit biases–including language, occupation, ethnic group, religion, country and gender identity–among 22,924 biographies featured on these front pages. Beyond examining the selection of biographical content featured daily on the front page, we analyzed 31 editorial guidelines employed by the gatekeepers who determine which stories gain prominence on these pages. This study underscores the imperative for systemic change within the platform’s editorial practices. Recognizing these issues is crucial for mitigating disparities in online knowledge representation and cultivating a more inclusive and diverse digital information landscape.