This task involves the work of investigating the extent to which the Watchlist is an effective entry point to activating and retaining new editors.

Decision(s) to be made

• In service of growing the number of newcomers who start and continue contributing to Wikipedia, how prominent do we think the Watch ⭐️ button ought to be within the interface?

Requirements

For desktop and mobile, how do the rates at which people who 1) are logged in, 2) have published 0 edits, and 3) add ≥1 Wikipedia article to their Watchlists A) publish an edit and B) return to make at least one edit in the month that immediately follows the month they made their first edit within (read: 2nd month retention) compared to people who do not add ≥1 Wikipedia article to their Watchlists?

Background

In T426453, we are working to make it easier for people to discover the ability to "save" articles they are interested in.

As part of the discussion around the above, questions/concerns surfaced about how the introduction of a new button to enable the above, and the corresponding movement of the Watch ⭐️ button could effect peoples' ability to start and continue contributing to Wikipedia.

While we are all in alignment around the need to offer lightweight ways/entry points into editing, we remain uncertain about the extent to which the Watchlist, as currently implemented, has been effective at enabling this "reading" to "editing" transition.