Meta has announced the introduction of new tools that grant qualified researchers access to data from its social networking applications, Facebook and Instagram, in a bid to support public interest research.
The tools provided by Meta’s content library and API offer nearly real-time access to public content from Facebook pages, posts, groups, and events, as well as from Instagram’s content creator and business accounts.
Details such as the number of interactions, shares, comments, and post views are also accessible.
Researchers can search, explore, and filter this content via a graphical user interface or through the programmatic API.
These tools collectively provide more comprehensive access to public content on Facebook and Instagram than any previous research tool offered by the company.
They also help Meta meet new regulatory requirements, data sharing, and commitments to transparency.
Early provision of these tools to researchers during the development process has given Meta the opportunity to refine them before making them widely available.
Individuals from qualified institutions pursuing scientific research or public interest topics can apply for these tools through partners with deep expertise in securely exchanging data for research purposes.
Research groups or individuals need to fill out an application form, providing a detailed explanation of the project’s mission and participants.
Final approval is subject to an independent review by the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research.
Meta indicates that there are no fees associated with accessing the content library once API access is granted.
The new tools resemble what Meta previously provided to researchers aiming to understand how content circulates across its applications.
Meta’s team, which developed the API and platform for researchers, faced criticism in 2021 for providing incomplete and inaccurate data to researchers.
The company later revoked the same group of researchers’ access to the API at New York University’s Cybersecurity for Democracy center.
The content library and API may not alleviate public pressure after years of fierce reactions regarding the regulation of misinformation and harmful content.
Meta has also faced criticism for how it managed content related to the war in Gaza and its plans to prevent the spread of fake content related to the upcoming U.S. presidential elections.
Meta is currently facing a lawsuit filed by 41 states regarding the harm it causes to younger users.
