Studying Facebook and Instagram data: The Digital Footprints software

Authors

  • Anja Bechmann Aarhus University
  • Peter Bjerregaard Vahlstrup Aarhus University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v20i12.5968

Keywords:

API, social media, digital social sciences, digital humanities

Abstract

The aim of this article is to discuss methodological implications and challenges in different kinds of deep and big data studies of Facebook and Instagram through methods involving the use of Application Programming Interface (API) data. This article describes and discusses Digital Footprints (www.digitalfootprints.dk), a data extraction and analytics software that allows researchers to extract user data from Facebook and Instagram data sources; public streams as well as private data with user consent. Based on insights from the software design process and data driven studies the article argues for three main challenges: Data quality, data access and analysis, and legal and ethical considerations.

Author Biographies

Anja Bechmann, Aarhus University

Associate Professor, Department of Media and Journalism

Peter Bjerregaard Vahlstrup, Aarhus University

Teaching Assistant Professor, Department of IT and Information Studies

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Published

2015-12-15

How to Cite

Bechmann, A., & Vahlstrup, P. B. (2015). Studying Facebook and Instagram data: The Digital Footprints software. First Monday, 20(12). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v20i12.5968