Post-Post-API Age: Studying Digital Platforms in Scant Data Access Times

TL;DR

This paper examines the challenges researchers face in accessing social media data under new EU regulations, highlighting barriers and proposing solutions to improve data access equity in the post-API era.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive survey and interviews revealing practical barriers to data access under the DSA and offers actionable recommendations for stakeholders.

Findings

Significant barriers in API access and usability

Exacerbation of existing data access inequalities

Need for improved platform transparency and policies

Abstract

Over the past decade, data provided by digital platforms has informed substantial research in HCI to understand online human interaction and communication. Following the closure of major social media APIs that previously provided free access to large-scale data (the "post-API age"), emerging data access programs required by the European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA) have sparked optimism about increased platform transparency and renewed opportunities for comprehensive research on digital platforms, leading to the "post-post-API age." However, it remains unclear whether platforms provide adequate data access in practice. To assess how platforms make data available under the DSA, we conducted a comprehensive survey followed by in-depth interviews with 19 researchers to understand their experiences with data access in this new era. Our findings reveal significant challenges in accessing social media data, with researchers facing multiple barriers including complex API application processes, difficulties obtaining credentials, and limited API usability. These challenges have exacerbated existing institutional, regional, and financial inequities in data access. Based on these insights, we provide actionable recommendations for platforms, researchers, and policymakers to foster more equitable and effective data access, while encouraging broader dialogue within the CSCW community around interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder solutions.