Seeing the Digital Sphere

Online platforms shape what we know, how we connect, and who gets heard. All around the world, their influence is vast, and so is the need to understand them. In this series, we asked expert contributors to unpack the state of access to public platform data – that is, the content, data, and information posted to online platforms that anyone can access. Why is this data critical for understanding today’s world? Why are researchers and journalists facing increased barriers to access data that all can see? How can we advance reliable access that furthers the public interest?