How do I request data from social media platforms?
Before participating in the study, please request your data directly from WhatsApp and/or Facebook and/or Instagram. You can donate data from each of these platforms. If you only want to donate data from one platform, please select the platform that is more important to you. Please take a close look at the corresponding instructions, as they contain important information for the further steps.
What type of device should I use?
You need your smartphone, on which you use WhatsApp. Please make sure that you are storing the data on a device that no one but you has access to.
Which chats should I choose?
From time to time most people discuss important matters with others and we need people we can rely on for help. They may be family, friends, or people who have really helped you - we are interested in the chats with the people you are most likely to talk to about really important things in your life.
Please select 5-7 chats with people with whom you discuss important things in your life (group chats are also possible).
How can I delete my data from my device?
We strongly recommend that you delete your original data (chat files) from your device and from your e-mail system (inbox and sent) after completing the donation. Note that simply deleting the files may not be enough to permanently remove the data from your device. Further information on the permanent deletion of files can be found on the website of the University of Michigan.
This is the chat export process on an iPhone.
This is the chat export process on an Android device. The process may vary on different devices.
Overview of the download & donation procedure:
Open WhatsApp on your*s smartphone.
Think about which chats are most relevant to you (e.g. close friend, partner). Think about at least five chats.
Pick one of the selected chats and open it.
Tap "More options" (three dots on the right) > "More" > "Export chat".
You will be asked whether to include media files or not. Tap "Without media".
If you want to participate on your smartphone, save the data locally or in such a way that you can access it from your smartphone. Alternatively, you can participate on your computer. You can use Bluetooth or Airdrop, for example, or send the chats to yourself by email. Please only send from/to a secure mail service (e.g. university mail address).
If you have decided to participate on the computer and have sent the chats to yourself by e-mail, download the chat file from the e-mail to your computer.
Repeat the steps 3 to 7 for all chats you selected as most relevant to you. Multiple selection of chats is currently not supported by WhatsApp; thus chats can only be downloaded one after the other.
The official documentation on how to download your data can be found here for iOS or Android.
What type of device should I use?
Please make sure that you are storing the data on a device that no one but you has access to. Because the amount of data for Facebook data donations can be quite large, we recommend using a computer.
How long does the data export from Facebook take?
The data is requested with just a few clicks on Facebook (see the instructions below). You will receive a notification from Facebook as soon as the data is available for download and can then start participating in the study.
How can I delete my data from my device?
We strongly recommend that you delete your original data after completing the donation. Note that simply deleting the files may not be enough to permanently remove the data from your device. Further information on the permanent deletion of files can for example be found on the website of the University of Michigan or wethegeek.com and appletoolbox.com.
Overview of the download & donation procedure:
Open Facebook and log in.
In the top right corner, click on the “Account” button (you profile picture) and select “Settings and privacy”. Click on “Settings”
Now click on "Accounts Center" on the left hand side.
Choose "Your information and permissions" on the left hand side and then click on "Download your information". A pop-up appears.
Click on “Download or transfer information”. If several accounts are shown, select the profiles you’d like to download information from and click “Next”.
You will then be asked what information you want to download. In the interest of data minimization, select “Specific types of information”.
Select “Messages” (Under “Your Facebook activity”) and “Profile information” (under “Personal information”). Click on “Next”.
Select “Download to device” and click on “Next”.
Pick a date range: We encourage you to request the data for at least 1 year but a shorter time span is possible as well. To do so, you can click on "Edit" next to custom date range and choose the desired interval. Then click on "Save".
Change the format from HTML to JSON. Then change the media quality from “Medium” to “Low”.
Click on “Submit Request”. As soon as the file is ready for download, you will receive a notification from Facebook. This may take a while (up to 48h).
Scroll back up and click on the "Available downloads" tab. There you should see the requested file and can download it as soon as it is ready.
The official documentation on how to download your data can be found here.
What type of device should I use?
Please make sure that you are storing the data on a device that no one but you has access to.
How long does the data export from Instagram take?
The data is requested with just a few clicks on Instagram (see the instructions below). You will receive a notification from Instagram as soon as the data is available for download and can then start participating in the study.
How can I delete my data from my device?
We strongly recommend that you delete your original data after completing the donation. Note that simply deleting the files may not be enough to permanently remove the data from your device. Further information on the permanent deletion of files can for example be found on the website of the University of Michigan or wethegeek.com and appletoolbox.com.
Overview of the download & donation procedure:
Open Instagram and log in.
In your profile click on the "Menu" button (three lines) and select "Your activity".
All the way on the bottom select “Download your information” and continue to the Accounts Center.
Click on “Download or transfer information”.
Click on “Some of your information”.
Select “Messages” (under “Your Instagram activity”) and “Personal information” (under “Personal information”).
Select "Download to device" and click on "Next".
Pick a date range: We encourage you to request the data for at least 1 year but a shorter time span is possible as well.
Change the format from HTML to JSON. Then change the media quality from “Medium” to “Low”.
Click on "Create files". As soon as the file is ready for download, you unusually receive a notification from Instagram, but sometimes, users do not get notified. Readying the file may take up to multiple days.
Scroll back up and click on the "Available downloads" tab. There you should see the requested file and can download is as soon it is ready.
The official documentation on how to download your data can be found here.
If you have received your data using these instructions, you can now start with the declaration of consent and survey. Afterwards you can donate your data.
Do you have your data ready?
