Wikipedia:Editing a page about you

Wikipedia has a long term principle: Subjects are strongly discouraged from editing articles about themselves, their family, employer, or anyone else with whom they have a personal connection. The encyclopedia's commitment to neutrality means that articles are entrusted to independent editors i.e. people who may have never met, may not be experts in some fields, and might have only learned about the subject recently.

This is an essay.

It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article or a Wikipedia policy, as it has not been reviewed by the community.

Rationale

Wikipedia's long-standing conflict of interest (COI) guideline exists to preserve the encyclopedia's credibility. The reasoning is straightforward: individuals generally lack objectivity regarding themselves. Subjects may unintentionally downplay controversies, disproportionately emphasize achievements, or remove unflattering (but accurate) information. Even with the best intentions, one's perspective is inherently biased when they are the subject.

This creates a paradox where the person who possesses the most knowledge about a topic (the subject) is discouraged from contributing directly. When a birthdate is incorrect, career achievements are outdated, or an editor has added an eccentric claim about hobbies, the subject cannot simply log in and fix it (though exceptions exist for clear vandalism or unambiguous factual errors).

Defining conflict of interest

Wikipedia defines this concept broadly. A COI exists if you are editing an article about yourself, family members, close friends, employers, clients, or anyone you are compensated to write about. Even having strong personal feelings about a subject can constitute a conflict. The guideline recognizes that financial relationships, personal connections, and emotional investments can all compromise objectivity.

Notably, having professional expertise does not automatically create a COI; academics are encouraged to contribute to articles in their field. The issue arises specifically when an editor has a direct personal or financial stake in how the article portrays its subject.

How to suggest changes

Wikipedia provides a structured process for subjects to suggest changes without directly editing articles. The mechanism centers on the article's "talk page", a discussion area attached to every Wikipedia entry where editors coordinate improvements.

Navigate to the talk page of the article.
Create a new section at the bottom.
Add the template {{Edit COI}} at the top of your section.
Clearly specify exactly what text should be added, removed, or changed.
Indicate precisely where in the article the change should appear.
Provide reliable sources supporting the requested edit.
Sign your post with four tildes (~~~~), which automatically adds your username and timestamp.

The Edit Request Wizard can also guide users through these steps.

Best practices for requests

Not all edit requests receive equal treatment. Reviewers (volunteers who evaluate these requests) respond faster to well-crafted proposals. Vague requests, such as "this section is misleading," are often ignored, while specific suggestions backed by clear sourcing are implemented more quickly.

Caution is necessary. If you make direct edits and your connection to the article is discovered, your contributions may face intense scrutiny. Other editors may investigate your editing history, and in some cases, undisclosed COI editing has been exposed by journalists, resulting in reputational damage for the subjects involved.

Disclosure requirements

If you choose to edit despite a COI (for example, to correct obvious factual errors), Wikipedia requires disclosure. You must state your relationship to the article's subject on the talk page. Paid editors face stricter requirements: they must reveal who is paying them, identify the client, and disclose all relevant affiliations.