About this resource

    Type of resources
    Reading
    Education level(s)
    College / Upper Division (Undergraduates), Graduate / Professional, Career / Technical, Adult Education
    Primary user(s)
    Student, Teacher
    Subject area(s)
    Applied Science, Arts and Humanities, Business and Communication, Career and Technical Education, Education, English Language Arts, History, Law, Life Science, Math & Statistics, Physical Science, Social Science
    Language(s)
    English
    Cluster
    Transparency and Reproducibility in Computation and Analysis, FAIR Data and Materials
    Last updated
    9 November 2026
    Reading

    Platform-controlled social media APIs threaten open science

    By Brittany I. Davidson, Darja Wischerath, Daniel Racek, Douglas A. Parry, Emily Godwin, Joanne Hinds, Dirk van der Linden, Jonathan F. Roscoe, Laura Ayravainen, Alicia G. Cork

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    Level College / Upper Division (Undergraduates), Graduate / Professional, Career / Technical, Adult Education · For Student, Teacher · Language English

    Abstract

    Social media data enable insights into human behaviour. Researchers can access these data via platform-provided application programming interfaces (APIs), but these come with restrictive usage terms that mean studies cannot be reproduced or replicated. Platform-owned APIs hinder access, transparency and scientific knowledge.

    Keywords Human Behaviour · Science · Technology · Society · Social Sciences