Virtual Newsletter about Software Freedom

December 29, 2025

Temporary accounts on Wikipedia are probably a bad idea
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There's a new feature on all Wikimedia wikis, called "Temporary accounts".[1]
It was made to "protect" the privacy of people who IP edit.
This is such a lie, because IP addresses usually can't be used for much and if you have a modern router you can't even get DoS'ed.

What I do have a feeling is, that Wikimedia HATES IP editing, and LOVES accounts.[2][3][4]
So instead, they have these "Temporary Accounts" which are the same as normal accounts, except no settings, and they are temporary.
Now, I prefer IP editing, as it does have its advantages[5], but temporary accounts are just not very good.

If you also don't like Temporary Accounts, you can put a little something on your temporary account's talk page.[6]

I'm honestly not surprised that the WMF did this.

- NexusSfan

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:TA
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:ACCOUNT
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Unregistered_editors_are_human_too&oldid=1320431865
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:9T#Further_theses
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:WNCA
[6] https://mrchicken.nexussfan.cz/cdn/anti_temporary_accounts_talkpage.txt

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