Challenges in archiving social media

Understanding what could possibly be considered social media content on the one hand, and also "archive-worthy" social media content on the other hand, is important for tool selection and assessment, but also for acknowledging that at times the solution might not lie with tools per se.

The nature of the content is significant for tool selection

For example, to capture Instagram content without capturing its media will result in a collection that is less rich than it could be, considering how integral images and videos are to this platform; thus, a tool should be selected that can capture Instagram media i.e. images, videos, or even stories, if possible.

Some types of content will only be capturable via collaboration with creators and owners

Certain parts of social media communication, e.g. direct private messages, and also some platforms as a whole, e.g. Discord channels, messaging apps, etc., are not accessible at all without the explicit permission of the account owners (who will provide passwords and other credentials). An example relevant for many archival institutions is WhatsApp. In the Netherlands, personal WhatsApp accounts have been used by members of government for official communication, making it harder to retain records as the law dictates. This indicates that sometimes the possibility to archive certain social media data will depend not only on whether there is legal mandate to do so, but also on whether users follow the mandate and are willing to co-operate.

Furthermore, messaging app use as a communication tool in protest movements around the world indicates that archiving social media is not only about choosing appropriate tools, but also about building relationships of trust and accountability with those who create the data we are interested in archiving (Jules, Summers, and Mitchell 2018) – sometimes, this will be the only way to even get access to data that is produced by people and groups at risk.

Social media platforms are not inherently friendly to archiving

Social media platforms have not been designed with archival purposes in mind. In terms of choosing and using tools, this translates to sudden changes in platform design that render tools unusable, and in the need for the archivist to adapt to these conditions. This situation makes social media archiving challenging and poses a significant threat to the safekeeping of the individual, social, and political record.