https://nyti.ms/2KDfaHU [extracts) = Last month, Facebook also narrowed the number of academics it would work with, saying it would collaborate with those <https://www.facebook.com/zuck/posts/10104797374385071> who wanted to research the impact of social media on elections through an “independent election research commission.” Only scholars with election-related projects can apply. “We are taking a hard look at the information apps can use when you connect them to Facebook, as well as other data practices,” Susan Glick, a Facebook spokeswoman, said in a statement. “These other data practices include academic research.” = “Academics would argue that we need access to primary data,” said Dr. Nielsen of Oxford. He said the changes might lead to an asymmetry, with internal Facebook researchers accumulating mounds of data while outside academics would not. “If that happens, only Facebook will really know very much about how Facebook actually operates and how people act on Facebook,” he said. -- --------------------------------------------------------------- Joly MacFie 218 565 9365 Skype:punkcast -------------------------------------------------------------- -