Deutschlandfunk has broadcast a feature on the societal consequences of social media and the difficulties researchers face in accessing platform data. The piece “Hass und Polarisierung: Wie Konzerne Forschung zu Social Media behindern” by Kathrin Kühn and Luca Rehse-Knauf shows that pressing questions on hate speech, disinformation, or a social media ban for minors can hardly be answered because platforms heavily restrict access to the relevant data. Simon Kruschinski of GESIS is among the experts interviewed. The feature illustrates the gap RIDLOP is designed to close: the lack of systematic, independent, and lawful access pathways to online platform data for research.
