A new wave of social media APIs restrictions. A decade of challenge for digital social research

Historically, APIs have enabled large-scale data collection, facilitating studies on critical issues such as disinformation, hate speech, and political polarization. However, since 2018, increasing API restrictions have significantly hindered independent research, raising concerns about academia’s ability to conduct replicable, large-scale studies. This paper examines the evolution of API restrictions on significant platforms, focusing on Meta (Facebook and Instagram) and Twitter (now X) and the role of European regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Services Act (DSA), analyzing their impact on digital social research to balance privacy protection and research accessibility.