The Data Abyss: How Lack of Data Access Leaves Research and Society in the Dark

ABSTRACT

This article articulates why the lack of social media platform data access for researchers is a huge problem, for research and society. We then review a number of ongoing initiatives and opportunities towards ensuring sustainable data accees.

KEYWORDS:

• Data access
• Platforms

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors. Original contribution was written in 2021 and since updated.

Notes

1. See https://business.twitter.com/en/help/ads-policies/product-policies/ads-transparency.html.

2. ERC project by Claes de Vreese, see: https://www.polcomm.org/research/erc-europinions/.

3. See https://research.fb.com/2020-election-research/.

4. See https://developer.twitter.com/en/products/twitter-api/academic-research.

5. See https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-cuts-off-access-for-nyu-research-into-political-ad-targeting-11628052204.

6. See https://edmo.eu/.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Claes de Vreese

Claes de Vreese is Distinguished University professor of AI and Society, with a special emphasis of Media and Democracy, University of Amsterdam.

Rebekah Tromble

Rebekah Tromble is Director of the Institute for Data, Democracy & Politics, George Washington University and Associate Professor, School of Media & Public Affairs, George Washington University.