What is the Algorithmic Archive Project?

In 2024, the Algorithmic Archive Project has received funding from the Mellon Foundation to carry out scoping research that will ultimately support the Bodleian Libraries in the development of a lasting, interoperable infrastructure and sustainable strategies for archiving web-based data, including social media data and algorithms. The project is part of the broader Future Bodleian programme aiming to expand and evolve its centuries-old role by engaging with the digital domain.

Why archive social media data?

In the past two decades, social media platforms have become a central means of communication, enabling people from across the globe to engage in discussions that transcend geographical borders, reflect on contemporary events and contribute to collective memory. Given their profound impact on society, researchers across various disciplines increasingly rely on social media data to analyse social, economic, and political phenomena. However, social media data is inherently ephemeral, subject to continuous evolution driven by changes in platform leadership, economic gain, and shifting policies. For this reason, it is essential to preserve and provide reliable and sustainable access for the (re)use of such an important resource.

Steps towards the development of a social media and algorithmic data service.

The Algorithmic Archive project is articulated in four interconnected phases aimed to investigate the research, archiving, legal and technical landscape to inform the Bodleian Libraries’ future development of a social and algorithmic data service.

The image below offers a visual summary of the work packages that the Research Officers have been exploring over this one-year project.

In upcoming blog posts, we will present some of the results and highlight use cases drawn from research conducted with social media data.