A team of researchers from the University of Canberra (UC) are to be among the first in the world to get access to raw data from Facebook for analysis.
US-based organisation, Social Science Research Council selected the UC team, led by Sora Park (pictured), as one of several worldwide recipients of a AU$75,000 grant to work as part of the social media research initiative.
Dr Park said the UC team would get access to the data following almost two years of negotiations with Facebook.
“Previously Facebook hasn’t released any data to show the quantity and type of news people see on Facebook,” Dr Park said.
“Now, we will be able to use this new data to measure how traditional sources of news compete with newer news outlets.”
Dr Park said UC’s application process to take part in the research began mid-2018, with the team adhering to a series of strict requisites prior to submission.
“A condition of the grant application was having ethical approval for the research prior to applying,” she said.
“Facebook and the researchers involved are deeply aware of potential privacy issues and ensuring that the protection of personal data is of the utmost priority.”
Dr Park said the UC team was made up of experts in the field of news and media.
She said her team would focus on mapping how Australians access and share news on social media, and how Facebook users respond and react to that information.
She said the resulting study, Framing and Sharing News on Social Media, would be one of the first to map the news consumption and circulation of Australians on the social platform.
“We are going to be using the grant to see how much of an impact Facebook has in the news space,” Dr Park said.
