According to Julia Angwin and Geoffrey Fowler of The Wall Street Journal, volunteers who contribute and edit entries in Wikipedia are leaving faster than new contributors are joining the site. Angwin and Fowler present several possible explanations for the net loss in editors.

One is that the site’s rules have become more strict over time. In the early days of Wikipedia, it was relatively easy to create an entry. But as Wikipedia’s library of content grew, it became obvious that the site would need to establish firm policies to remain credible. Entries on controversial topics can lead to bickering among contributors. It was important for Wikipedia to create ground rules to reign in the chaos. But those same policies can discourage people from contributing to the site.

The Journal also points out that it’s getting more difficult to find a topic that doesn’t already have its own Wikipedia page. Some volunteers may feel that they can no longer contribute to the site — others have already covered their area of expertise.