Abstract
Independent researchers’ access to digital platform data is critical for our understanding of the online world; yet recent reflections have shown that data are not always readily available (Asbjørn Møller & Bechmann, 2019; Bruns, 2018; Tromble, 2021). In the face of platform power to determine data accessibility, academics can often feel powerless, but opportunities and openings can emerge for scholars to shape practice. In this article, we examine the potential for academics to engage with non-academic audiences in debates around increased data access. Adopting an autoethnographic approach, we draw on our personal experiences working with policymakers and digital platforms to offer advice for academics seeking to shape debates and advocate for change. Presenting vignettes that detail our experiences and drawing on existing scholarship on how to engage with non-academic audiences, we outline the opportunities and challenges in this kind of engagement with a view to guiding other scholars interested in engaging in this space.
Highlights
Whether studying the impact of digital technology on the world of work, political speech, public health, news consumption, elections, cartography, or much besides, scholars from a range of disciplines require access to data about people’s online activities and interactions
The private companies that domi‐ nate the digital landscape—collecting terabytes of data about their users’ behaviours and preferences—have been reluctant to share these data with independent, external researchers. Though some of these companies have occasionally shown willingness to share some data with scholars, the types and applications of such data have been limited, and scholars remain reliant on the goodwill of the platforms to provide data when and how they see fit (Asbjørn Møller & Bechmann, 2019; Bruns, 2018; Tromble, 2021)
A variety of academics, civil society researchers, journalists, and pol‐ icymakers have called for improved access to platform data, but less attention has been paid to the role aca‐ demics can play in bringing about such change
Summary
Whether studying the impact of digital technology on the world of work, political speech, public health, news consumption, elections, cartography, or much besides, scholars from a range of disciplines require access to data about people’s online activities and interactions. The private companies that domi‐ nate the digital landscape—collecting terabytes of data about their users’ behaviours and preferences—have been reluctant to share these data with independent, external researchers Though some of these companies have occasionally shown willingness to share some data with scholars, the types and applications of such data have been limited, and scholars remain reliant on the goodwill of the platforms to provide data when and how they see fit (Asbjørn Møller & Bechmann, 2019; Bruns, 2018; Tromble, 2021). We combine short vignettes detailing our expe‐ riences with key insights from the existing literature on knowledge exchange Using this approach, we high‐ light the opportunities and challenges of non‐academic engagement and reflect on the lessons our experiences offer others. We end by offering advice for scholars who wish to engage in public‐facing policy work related to data access and beyond
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