Welcome! Thank you for your interest in applying for access to SOMAR’s Data!

This guide will help you complete SOMAR's application forms and prepare the required documentation for upload. Please carefully review this guide, and if you haven’t already, we recommend viewing the publicly available resources listed in the sections below for specific datasets you are interested in accessing.

Please use the sidebar on the right side of this page for easier navigation.

When ready, please return to SOMAR’s Data Access Applications Portal (SOMAR-APPLY) and select the dataset you wish to access to begin.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please complete the application form in one sitting. SOMAR is working to enhance the forms so progress can be saved prior to submission.

This guide is a living document and will be updated as needed for easier navigation and more clarity in the information provided.

Feel free to reach out to somar-help@umich.edu if you have any questions about the applications!

Table of Contents

SOMAR Data Access Methods and Requirements

Virtual Data Enclave (VDE) - data access only available in a secure virtual environment

Some SOMAR datasets have highly sensitive or identifiable information or usage restrictions. These datasets are only available in our Virtual Data Enclave (VDE). VDE datasets are noted in the “Dataset required for research” section. One example of datasets available in the VDE is the U.S. 2020 Facebook and Instagram Election Study Collection.

• Accounts needed

  • Jira account (sign-up required; it's free)

• Application requirements

  • Full application - All required items must be completed and provided, including IRB or Ethics Committee Review documentation, Restricted Data Use Agreement (RDUA), CVs or resumes, etc.

Controlled Download - data download available via a secure link

Some SOMAR datasets may cover sensitive topics or have usage restrictions. These datasets require an application and agreement to follow ICPSR’s Terms of Use. However, these datasets can be used in a researcher’s own computing environment. After your application is approved, we will send you a link to download the dataset. Controlled Download datasets are noted in the “Dataset required for research” section. One example of datasets available via Controlled Download is State of Social Connections Study.

• Accounts needed

  • Jira account (sign-up required; it's free)

• Application requirements

  • Short application - the following items are not always required: RDUA, IRB or Ethics Committee Review documentation, confidential/sensitive data experience, ethical guidelines, coding/technical experience

• Agreement to Terms of Use in the Application

  • Researchers applying to access Controlled Download data must agree to Standard Terms of Use from ICPSR

Resources for Data from Meta

Meta has partnered with the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) at the University of Michigan to share public data from Meta’s platforms in a responsible, privacy-preserving way. This partnership is enabled through ICPSR’s industry-leading SOMAR initiative.

Meta Content Library and Content Library API

If you haven't already, we recommend reviewing the Meta Transparency Center webpages and exploring detailed documentation to learn more about the features, search quality, and data available in Meta Content Library and Content Library API.

Meta Content Library User Interface (UI) is hosted by Meta Platforms. Content Library API is hosted within SOMAR’s secure Virtual Data Enclave (“VDE”). Researchers will use the virtual data enclave to access and analyze public data from the API. Content Library UI can be used separately or in conjunction with Content Library API.

Content Library UI and Content Library API have different application requirements. If you are applying for access to the UI only, you will fill out the first part of the application. If you would also like to apply for access to the API, you will be prompted to answer another set of questions based on API application requirements. These additional application requirements for Content Library API include: 

1. A brief technical skills questionnaire

   1. Evidence of responsible experience or use of sensitive or restricted data

   2. Preferred programming languages

   3. Preferred statistical software for quantitative data analysis

2. Restricted Data Use Agreement between ICPSR and your institution, which must be executed before you are granted access to SOMAR's VDE. Navigate to the related section below to learn more about this item.

Please note that applications may be submitted without a Data Use Agreement, with the option to upload the documents later in the process. This will help expedite the application process for earlier UI access, while you and your team work on the additional documentation for API access. 

Ad Targeting Dataset

Please carefully review this guide and if you haven't already, we recommend reviewing the Meta Transparency Center and exploring detailed documentation to learn more about the dataset.

The Ad Targeting dataset contains the ad targeting logic of all of the Social Issue, Electoral, and Political (SIEP) ads run beginning August 3, 2020, on the Facebook and Instagram platforms. The coverage includes all countries where we currently have our ad authorizations and disclaimer tools available. More information on the countries this includes is available in our Business Help Center.

Application Forms

SOMAR’s Data Access Application portal enables us to collect information about your research project and your credentials, thus helping us better understand how we can support your research and data analysis.

There are two forms:

• SOMAR Data Access Application

  • Lead Researchers or Applicants should use this form to submit requests for access to data from the Social Media Archive (SOMAR)

• Collaborator Request

  • Lead Researchers, Applicants, or Collaborators should use this form to submit requests to add collaborators that require access to data from the Social Media Archive (SOMAR).

Note: Most fields are required, indicated with an asterisk *

SOMAR Data Access Application

Project Application Fields

The fields listed below capture information that helps SOMAR staff to record and track applications as well as easily identify a point person for each application.

Researcher Contact Details

This application requires information that helps SOMAR staff to record and track applications as well as easily identify a point person for each application. The roles in this application form are the following: 

1. Applicant: Individual filling out the application who will serve as the main point of contact for the lead researcher and/or research team and manage this application. The applicant can be the same person as the Lead Researcher, an administrator  or member of the research team.  

2. Lead Researcher: Individual leading the proposed research project or larger research agenda/initiative that requires access to Meta Content Library UI and/or API. If the research project or research agenda is team-based, the Lead Researcher will be the Principal Investigator, Lead Investigator, or Research Lead, or equivalent in your organization (e.g. Social Media Monitor). In some instances, the applicant and the Lead Researcher will be the same individual.

3. Institutional signatory: Individuals at the Lead Researcher’s affiliated institution who holds the authority to enter into legal agreements and sign contracts on the institution’s behalf. Signatories typically work in a department such as the Contracts Office, Office of Sponsored Research, Research Contracts Management office, etc. The institutional signatory will have to sign the restricted data agreement(s) associated with this application. The institutional signatory will only be required if you are applying for access to the API or if the individual clickthrough agreement for Content Library UI access is not appropriate for your institution. 

4. Collaborators: Anyone other than the Lead Researcher who has access to the data or handles the data in any capacity. If any computing staff, data librarian, research assistants (including students), or general staff will be handling the data, they must be included in this application as collaborators. Depending on institutional requirements, collaborators may be required to be officially affiliated with the Lead Researcher's institution. Please reach out to somar-help@umich.edu for any questions.

Applicant Details

Lead Researcher Details

The fields listed below gather high-level information about the Lead Researcher, their institution, and their experience. It is important that the information provided for these fields is as current and accurate as possible, as it helps to keep SOMAR’s application reviews efficient. 

Lead Researcher is the individual leading the proposed research project or larger research agenda/initiative that requires access to the dataset selected for research. If the research project or research agenda is team-based, the Lead Researcher will be the Principal Investigator, Lead Investigator, Research Lead, or equivalent in your organization (e.g. Social Media Monitor). In some instances, the applicant and the Lead Researcher will be the same individual.

Collaborator Details

Collaborators can be added at any time after the Lead Researcher’s application has been submitted.

A separate form must be completed for each collaborator. The following information is required:

• Lead Researcher’s application ID (SOMARAPPLY-####)

• Research project title

• Lead Researcher’s last name and email address

To add collaborators, use the Collaborator Addition Request Form. The questions on this form can be found in this document.

Note: If the Project Application references a collaborator’s experience to meet eligibility or expertise requirements, that collaborator must complete the Collaborator Addition Request form for the application to proceed. Until the form is submitted, we cannot consider their qualifications in the review process of the Project Application, and the application will be placed on hold.

Additional Contacts

Research Project Information

These items collect information about the Lead Researcher’s research project or agenda, including the summary and why the data are needed. We encourage applicants to provide as much relevant information as needed about their research.  If necessary, applicants are welcome to upload additional supporting documentation about the research project or the researcher’s experience later in the application form. 

Additional requirements for data access in the VDE

These items collect additional information about the Lead Researcher and research project to be reviewed for access to the data in the Virtual Data Enclave (e.g., Meta Content Library API). If necessary, applicants are welcome to upload additional supporting documentation about the research project or the researcher’s experience later in the application form.

Required Questions for Virtual Enclave Onboarding

Each person using the VDE must complete the following ICPSR VDE training as part of the application and onboarding process. Please take the following steps:

1. Watch the ICPSR VDE Training video (~7 minutes)

   • Please note that SOMAR’s VDE environment has some differences, but the VDE security information remains the same.

2. Complete the VDE Training Quiz (~1-2 minutes)

   • Although instructions in the confirmation of submission message ask researchers to email ICPSR that they completed the quiz, SOMAR does not need these messages. We will onboard researchers to the VDE after their applications have been approved and all requirements for data access in the VDE are met.

3. If you answered any quiz questions incorrectly, please rewatch the video.

4. Complete the questions directly below.

Contracts

Important information about contracts with Meta

As part of the requirements for Meta research tools, each individual who will access the tool must accept a click-through agreement for the Product Terms. Once the application is approved, Meta will follow up with you and your team to share the click-through agreement and then instructions to access Meta Content Library UI or Meta Ad Targeting Dataset.

If the clickthrough agreement is not appropriate for your institution (e.g., if your institution does not allow employees to consent to click-through Product Terms), Meta offers the option for the institution to sign an Information Sharing Agreement (ISA) to govern access at an institution level. The executed ISA may apply to various research agendas, though new applications for new research proposals must be submitted.

If you are unsure whether your institution requires an ISA, consult your institution’s Contracts Office or Office of Sponsored Research. Also, if you have any questions about the ISA, please email MetaResearchApplications@meta.com.

Restricted Data Use Agreement with ICPSR

(also known as Data Use Agreement)

For access to the data in SOMAR's Virtual Data Enclave, the Restricted Data Agreement (RDUA) must be reviewed, signed, and dated by the Lead Researcher and their institutionʼs legal representative or signatory. The Restricted Data Use Agreement is an agreement between the University of Michigan and the Lead Researcherʼs institution, signed by both the Lead Researcher and an institutional signatory (i.e., legal representative) of the Lead Researcherʼs institution, which specifies the terms of use of the restricted data.

Please download the agreement document and upload the completed version in the form.

Ethics Committee or Institutional Review Board (IRB) documentation

*Note: This documentation is not required for Meta Content Library, Meta Ad Targeting Dataset, or datasets available via Controlled Download.

An Ethics Committee is responsible for ensuring that research is carried out in an ethical manner in accordance with national and international law.

Ethics Committees may also be known as an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Ethics Review Committee, Research Ethics Board, or Research Ethics Committee.

Applicants will need to work with their institutions' Ethics Committees to obtain documentation that verifies the research approved or exempt.

In the United States, an IRB is usually housed in the same institution if it is a college or university. However, if your institution does not have an IRB, it likely has a contract with an incorporated IRB. Please check this resource from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. to verify the incorporated IRB is accredited.

Applicant Acknowledgement (Meta Content Library and Ad Targeting Dataset)

Consent to share information with Meta

Note: This item applies only to researchers requesting to access Meta Content Library or Meta Ad Targeting Dataset.

Please note that when your application to use Meta Content Library or Meta Ad Targeting Dataset is approved by SOMAR, information from your application will be shared with Meta. Meta will use this data in accordance with Meta’s Privacy Policy, including to provide and improve the Meta Content Library and/or API products and Meta Ad Targeting Dataset.

Applicant Acknowledgement (U.S. 2020 Facebook and Instagram Election Study)

Note: This item applies only to researchers requesting to access U.S. 2020 Facebook and Instagram Election Study.

Consent to share information with Meta

Please note that when your application to use U.S. 2020 Facebook and Instagram Election Study data is approved by ICPSR, information from your application will be shared with Meta. The information we share includes:

• Principal Investigator Information

  • Institution email

  • Full name

  • Dataset(s) requested

• Collaborator Information

  • List of collaborators, names, and emails

• Research Project Information

  • Project title

  • Research summary

We share this data with Meta in order to facilitate (1) onboarding to a restricted data environment and (2) user support.

ICPSR Terms of Use (Datasets available via Controlled Download)

Note: This item applies only to researchers requesting to access datasets available via Controlled Download.

Please read the terms of use below. If you agree to them, click on the "I Agree" button to proceed. If you do not agree, you can click on the "I Do Not Agree" button to return to the home page.

ICPSR adheres to the principles of the CoreTrustSeal Core Trustworthy Data Repositories Requirements, which, in part, require the data consumer to comply with access regulations and applicable licenses imposed both by law and by the data repository, and to conform to codes of conduct that are generally accepted in higher education and scientific research for the exchange and proper use of knowledge and information.

These data are distributed under the following terms of use, which are governed by ICPSR. By continuing past this point to the data retrieval process, you signify your agreement to comply with the requirements stated below:

Privacy of RESEARCH SUBJECTS

Any intentional identification of a RESEARCH SUBJECT (whether an individual or an organization) or unauthorized disclosure of his or her confidential information violates the PROMISE OF CONFIDENTIALITY given to the providers of the information. Therefore, users of data agree:

• To use these datasets solely for research or statistical purposes and not for investigation of specific RESEARCH SUBJECTS, except when identification is authorized in writing by ICPSR (icpsr-help@umich.edu)

• To make no use of the identity of any RESEARCH SUBJECT discovered inadvertently, and to advise ICPSR of any such discovery (icpsr-help@umich.edu)

Redistribution of Data

You agree not to redistribute data or other materials without the written agreement of ICPSR, unless:

1. You serve as the OFFICIAL or DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE at an ICPSR MEMBER INSTITUTION and are assisting AUTHORIZED USERS with obtaining data, or

2. You are collaborating with other AUTHORIZED USERS to analyze the data for research or instructional purposes.

When sharing data or other materials in these approved ways, you must include all accompanying files with the data, including terms of use. More information on permission to redistribute data can be found on the ICPSR Web site.

Citing Data

You agree to reference the recommended bibliographic citation in any publication that employs resources provided by ICPSR. Authors of publications based on ICPSR data are required to send citations of their published works to ICPSR for inclusion in a database of related publications (bibliography@icpsr.umich.edu) .

Disclaimer

You acknowledge that the original collector of the data, ICPSR, and the relevant funding agency bear no responsibility for use of the data or for interpretations or inferences based upon such uses.

Violations

If ICPSR determines that the terms of this agreement have been violated, ICPSR will act according to our policy on terms of use violations. Sanctions can include:

• ICPSR may revoke the existing agreement, demand the return of the data in question, and deny all future access to ICPSR data.

• The violation may be reported to the Research Integrity Officer, Institutional Review Board, or Human Subjects Review Committee of the user's institution. A range of sanctions are available to institutions including revocation of tenure and termination.

• If the confidentiality of human subjects has been violated, the case may be reported to the Federal Office for Human Research Protections. This may result in an investigation of the user's institution, which can result in institution-wide sanctions including the suspension of all research grants.

• A court may award the payment of damages to any individual(s)/organization(s) harmed by the breach of the agreement.

Definitions

authorized user - A faculty member, staff member, or student at a member institution

ICPSR - Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research

member institution - An institutional member of ICPSR

Official/Designated Representative - An individual appointed to represent a university's interests in ICPSR. This individual is also charged with providing user support to campus users.

promise of confidentiality - A promise to a respondent or research participant that the information the respondent provides will not be disseminated without the permission of the respondent; that the fact that the respondent participated in the study will not be disclosed; and that disseminated information will include no linkages to the identity of the respondent. Such a promise encompasses traditional notions of both confidentiality and anonymity. Names and other identifying information regarding respondents, proxies, or other persons on whom the respondent or proxy provides information, are presumed to be confidential.

research subject - A person or organization observed for purposes of research. Also called a respondent. A respondent is generally a survey respondent or informant, experimental or observational subject, focus group participant, or any other person providing information to a study or on whose behalf a proxy provides information.

Additional Documents

If more information seems to be needed, a field noted below is available. Please upload supporting document(s) in Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF, or Excel. If more than one file will be uploaded, please combine the files in Adobe PDF or into a zipped package file.

Application Review

After you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email and a Jira message that your submission has been received. Submitted applications will be placed in a queue to be reviewed by SOMAR staff.

SOMAR staff will contact you within 4-6 weeks of submission with any questions, recommendations, or status updates for your application. We may request additional information before we can approve your access to the data. If you have any questions during the review process, please contact us at somar-help@umich.edu.