Scientists: 300 studies must stop due to new Twitter API prices

About 300 longer-running studies that use messages on Twitter will have to stop due to the new prices for access to Twitter’s API. Researchers who could previously use the API for free will have to pay between $42,000 and $210,000 per month.

The changes give researchers access to far fewer tweets, even for that high amount, writes the Coalition for Independent Technology Research. A survey by the organization revealed 250 examples of research that cannot continue due to the changes, while the organization itself has already assisted scientists in 50 research studies. The coalition points out that this not only concerns scientists from universities, but also research from non-profits.

Twitter has always offered free access to its API to researchers from shortly after its founding until now. As a result, much more research has been done based on Twitter data than on that of other social media. Access to platforms such as Facebook and Instagram is much more difficult.

Twitter announced its new API subscriptions late last month. The changes will take effect at the end of this month. Under new owner Elon Musk, Twitter is looking for new ways to make money. This means there is more focus on subscriptions for users. Taking out free API access is one of the other ways to make money.