Debate: How do we get platforms to share data with independent researchers? Regulation alone won’t cut it.

We respond to articles in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health journal about whether, and under what, conditions researchers should collaborate with digital companies. In particular, we discuss the challenges academics face to access and study platform data. Independent academic research in this area is crucial for identifying and combating any potential negative effects that platforms can have on individuals and societies. Past discussions on academic data access have focused on platform regulation and data governance. However, in this commentary we argue that even if key stakeholders agree on a regulatory and governance model, platforms have strong incentives to not comply – or to comply only partially. We advocate for a more holistic strategy aiming at influencing regulation, public opinion, news media, diverse political groups, and for building a robust oversight structure.