Best of the Spectator The Book Club: Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia
Nov 13, 2025
This week, Sam Leith chats with Jimmy Wales, the visionary founder of Wikipedia and author of The Seven Rules of Trust. They dive into the critical role of trust in public discourse and explore how it can help combat societal polarization. Jimmy tackles the backlash from Elon Musk labeling Wikipedia as 'woke' and shares insights on the internet's descent into toxicity. He also highlights the importance of community moderation in maintaining Wikipedia's integrity, while addressing challenges like misinformation and the future of online trust.
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Design Trust Into Systems
- Jimmy Wales argues trust is fundamental to any cooperative online system and must be deliberately designed into platforms.
- He emphasizes transparency and thoughtful controls that preserve trust while managing bad actors.
Airbnb's Trust Rebuild
- Jimmy Wales recounts Airbnb's early crisis where a guest trashed a property and PR advice failed them.
- Airbnb rebuilt trust by apologizing, enforcing ID checks, and offering generous indemnity to hosts.
Why Vandalism Fails On Wikipedia
- Wales highlights vandalism is constant but quickly reverted on Wikipedia, so it isn't rewarding.
- He contrasts this with social media where outrageous posts gain attention and amplify hostility.
