In a surprising turn of events, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, announced this week that it will be discontinuing its widely-used analytics tool, CrowdTangle, by August 14, 2024. This announcement has sent shockwaves through the online community, with many users wondering about the implications and alternatives.
Why the Change?
According to Tess, a spokesperson for Meta, the decision to sunset CrowdTangle comes as part of the company's evolution in data-sharing practices amidst changing technology and regulatory landscapes. The move is aimed at reallocating resources towards Meta's new research tools, the Meta Content Library & Content Library API. These tools promise to offer high-quality data to researchers while adhering to stringent privacy and security standards.
Impact on Users
Existing users can breathe a temporary sigh of relief as they'll still have access to CrowdTangle's features, including the User Interface, API, and Chrome Extension, until the specified deprecation date. However, they won't be able to add new users to their accounts during this period. The platform will be in maintenance mode, with support focusing on addressing bugs that affect a large number of users.
Future of Data Access
Concerns have been raised regarding real-time data access and historical data retrieval. Meta reassures users that data will continue to be updated in real-time until August 14, 2024. Additionally, the Historical Data feature will remain available for download until the deprecation date.
Transitioning to New Tools
For researchers, journalists, and fact-checking organizations, Meta offers alternatives such as the Meta Content Library. Applications for access to these tools are processed independently through the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) at the University of Michigan.
A Mixed Bag for Businesses
Commercial news organizations and advertisers will continue to use Insights within Meta Business Suite, with the option to collaborate with third parties. However, they won't have direct access to Meta Content Library unless they meet specific criteria.
Seeking Support
As the platform enters maintenance mode, users are advised to refer to CrowdTangle Help Center and Resources for documentation. While support will be available for troubleshooting, it will primarily focus on widespread bugs.
Looking Ahead
While the sun sets on CrowdTangle, Meta assures its users that this move is part of a broader strategy to adapt to changing data-sharing norms. As the online landscape continues to evolve, the company remains committed to providing innovative solutions that meet the needs of its users while upholding privacy and security standards.