Twenty-five percent (25%) of those who have visited the Wikipedia web site have read something they knew to be inaccurate. A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 56% of Wikipedia visitors have not personally found any inaccuracies. Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia where anyone can post or edit just about anything.

However, among all adults, 46% believe Wikipedia is at least somewhat reliable. Only 16% disagree while 38% are not sure.

Celebrity errors on the website have recently made the news. Comedian Sinbad was recently declared dead on Wikipedia. He took the news well and later joked about how he “rose from the dead.” Also, last month golfer Fuzzy Zoeller sued the site to acquire the identity of the person who falsely posted he abused drugs.

Many high school and college students use Wikipedia for research reports and theses. Middlebury College in Vermont recently made news when the campus banned using the source for all research projects.

While Wikipedia is open to anyone, just 9% of Americans have posted or corrected information on the site.

Overall, 46% have a favorable opinion of the website, while 20% hold an unfavorable opinion. Men under 40 have an especially positive view—68% favorable.

Public opinion of Wikipedia is much higher than the public’s view of another Internet phenomenon—YouTube. Just 21% of Americans have a favorable opinion of the embattled video service.

While outpacing YouTube, Wikipedia is not as well received as companies like Walmart and major auto manufacturers.

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