Jimmy Wales is an American-British internet entrepreneur and co-founder of the world-famous online encyclopedia, Wikipedia. Born on August 7, 1966, in Huntsville, Alabama, Wales is known for his contribution to the development of a free and open internet, particularly with regard to online collaboration, user-generated content, and the democratization of knowledge.
Wales’ early career began in finance, where he worked as an options trader and later founded the web-hosting company Bomis, which became a major source of funding for Wikipedia. In 2001, Wales co-founded Wikipedia with Larry Sanger, a former philosophy professor. Wales has since been an active member of the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organization that operates Wikipedia and its sister projects.
Wikipedia, a free, online encyclopedia written and edited by volunteers around the world, has become one of the most popular websites on the internet. The website has been praised for its democratization of knowledge, making information available to anyone with an internet connection, regardless of their geographic location or socioeconomic status.
Wales has been recognized for his contributions to the development of a free and open internet. In 2006, he was named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” and was awarded the Monaco Media Prize for his work in promoting a free and open internet. In 2011, he was awarded the Gottlieb Duttweiler Prize for his efforts to promote knowledge and education in the digital age.
Aside from his work with Wikipedia, Wales has been involved in various other initiatives aimed at promoting free and open access to information. In 2004, he launched Wikia, a for-profit wiki hosting service. In 2007, he co-founded the People’s Operator, a mobile network operator that donates a portion of its revenue to charity. He has also been involved in various political and social causes, including the promotion of open data and transparency in government.
In recent years, Wales has been critical of the social media industry and its impact on democracy and freedom of speech. He has called for greater regulation of social media companies and has been a vocal advocate for ethical and responsible use of technology.
In conclusion, Jimmy Wales is a prominent figure in the world of technology and information sharing, particularly with his role as co-founder of Wikipedia. His contributions to the development of a free and open internet have had a profound impact on the way we access and share information. His advocacy for transparency, open data, and responsible use of technology continues to shape the conversation around the role of technology in society.
