Meta, the parent company of Instagram, is launching a pilot program allowing selected researchers access to Instagram data for up to six months. This initiative aims to study the app’s impact on the well-being of teens and young adults. Researchers will focus on various aspects, such as regional effects of social-media use, using data like follower counts and usage patterns. Meta will restrict access to certain types of data, like user demographics and content specifics, to protect privacy. Despite offering a valuable research opportunity, the initiative is met with caution by some researchers due to the challenges of accessing comprehensive platform data independently.
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/07/instagram-teen-well-being-studies/679048
