User:BZPN/WikiProject Reliable Sources/Sources
 | This essay contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia users. Essays may represent common ideas, or ideas that many users would not support. They are not rules. Think carefully about what they say before following them. |
 | This page in a nutshell: Unreliable sources should be removed because they lower the quality of Wikipedia content. This can be done by blocking domains. |
Blocking unreliable sources on Wikipedia is essential to ensure accuracy and verifiability. However, blocking sources should follow a clear process to keep Wikipedia reliable and user-friendly. Here’s an outline of when, why, and how to block sources, plus examples of sources that are often blocked.
Why We Block Sources
changeBlocking is done to:
- Make sure content is based on reliable, fact-checked sources. See: Wikipedia:Reliable sources.
- Keep Wikipedia free from promotional or biased information.
- Uphold Wikipedia's standards of neutrality, as stated in Wikipedia:Verifiability.
When to Block a Source
changeA source should only be blocked if:
- It is frequently used for self-promotion, misinformation, or biased content.
- Discussion and removal attempts haven't resolved the issue.
- There’s consensus that the source doesn’t meet reliability standards.
Steps to Block a Source
changeBlocking involves:
- Removing Links First – Existing links to the source should be removed from all articles before blocking. This prevents technical issues.
- Seeking Consensus – If the source is widely used, a community discussion should confirm the need for blocking.
- Blocking – After links are removed and consensus is reached, the source can be added to MediaWiki:BlockedExternalDomains.json. You can request that the source be added to the blacklist at Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard.
Important Considerations
changeBlocking should not disrupt Wikipedia’s functionality:
- Community-Needed Links – Some websites, like Discord, are essential for Wikipedia’s communication and can’t be blocked as they serve a unique purpose.
- Maintaining Links – Avoid blocking useful educational or institutional sources unless they spread misinformation.
Pseudo-sources
changeHere are examples of unreliable, pseudo-sources:
- Social Media – Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have user-generated content without editorial review.
- Q&A and Opinion Sites – Websites like Quora and Reddit provide unverified user answers and opinions.
- Aggregated Content – Sites like Pinterest and Everything Explained Today compile content from other sources without verifying its accuracy. Pinterest also often promotes products, which may unintentionally serve as ads.
- Unverified Blogs – Blogs on platforms like Blogspot or Patreon are frequently promotional and lack editorial checks.
- How-To Guides – Websites like WikiHow often contain unreviewed, user-written tutorials that may not be factually accurate for Wikipedia’s standards.
Why We Remove Links Before Blocking
changeEditing a page that contains an unremoved blocked link will prevent the changes from being saved - MediaWiki will perceive this as an attempt to add the link.