Frequently Asked Questions

This section includes answers to questions participants may have about the study or the website.
If you don't see an answer to your question, please email us at stirlab@ucf.edu. You can also send our team a text message at (407) 984-6180.

Overview

Usage

What devices and browsers are recommended?

We recommend that you complete the study using a desktop or laptop computer with Mozilla Firefox or a Chromium derivative (e.g. Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Brave, or Vivaldi).

The use of a mobile device is not recommended. However, if you would prefer to use an iOS device, Safari will provide the best experience.

Can I use Instagram/Twitter's iOS or Android app to download my data?

Unfortunately, no. Using Twitter/Instagram’s iOS or Android app will provide you with a file that is HTML formatted. Our file processor cannot read this formatting, and you will receive an error after uploading it.

While you can still request a download on a mobile device, you must do so through a web browser to ensure that the file will be compatible.

If you would like to check whether the file is compatible with our system, open the ZIP Instagram sent. Folders within the ZIP should contain files with the .json extension. If they have the .html extension, you will need to make another data request.

Privacy

Where can I review the consent forms?

Our study has three different consent forms, all of which can be accessed below.

If you are between 13 and 17 years old, view Teen Assent here.
If you are the parent of a participant between 13 and 17 years old, view Parental Consent here.
If you are 18 years old or older, view Adult Consent here.

Will my data be reported to the authorities?

This research is covered by a Certificate of Confidentiality from the National Institutes of Health. This means that the researchers cannot release or use information, documents, or samples that may identify you in any legal actions or lawsuits, even as evidence, unless you provide consent. This protection covers federal, state, civil, criminal, administrative, and legislative proceedings. An example would be a court subpoena.

The Certificate does not stop reporting that federal, state, or local laws require. For example, we are required to report child abuse, elder abuse, child pornography, some communicable diseases, and threats to harm yourself or others. For this reason, we ask that you remove all instances of these, particularly child pornography (i.e. any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old), before uploading your data file.

The Certificate cannot be used to stop a sponsoring U.S. federal or state government agency from checking records or evaluating programs. In addition, the Certificate does not prevent your information from being used for other research so long as this use is allowed by federal regulations.

Researchers may release information about you if you give consent. The Certificate of Confidentiality does not stop you from willingly releasing information about your involvement in this research. It also does not prevent you from having access to your own information.

Content shared with the participant by other users that is included in their Instagram data file, such as direct messages, will be treated as the participant’s own data. As a result, it is under the same requirements for mandated reporting as the participant's own data.

Instructions

How do I download my Instagram data?

You can review the download instructions here.

How do I download my Twitter data?

You can review the download instructions here.

How do I upload my Instagram data to the study’s web interface?

You can review the upload instructions here.

Please note that these instructions expect that data will be uploaded using a PC.

How do I upload my Twitter data to the study’s web interface?

You can review the upload instructions here.

Please note that these instructions expect that data will be uploaded using a PC.

There are things I’m not comfortable with sharing in my Instagram or Twitter data. Can I delete them?

Yes. Instagram data downloads do not contain anything you have deleted, so feel free to remove anything that you’re not comfortable with sharing.

If you would like to keep something on Instagram but still don’t want us to see it, then you can instead delete it from the downloaded ZIP file. However, if you plan to do this, please make sure to follow these rules:

Instagram

Do NOT delete the "account_information" folder.
Do NOT delete the "messages" folder.
Ensure that the "inbox" folder (in "messages") has at least 15 subfolders.
Do NOT edit or delete the JSON files in any folder. (You may, however, read them to determine which conversation each represents.)
Do NOT delete any photos or videos from conversations that you are keeping.

Twitter

Do NOT delete the "direct_messages_media" folder.
Do NOT delete the "direct_messages_group_media" folder.
Do NOT edit or delete the JSON files in any folder. (You may, however, read them to determine which conversation each represents.)
Do NOT delete any photos or videos from conversations that you are keeping.

Failure to follow the above rules may result in an upload error, corrupted messages, or an inability to view media in conversations.

Troubleshooting

I have not received my Instagram or Twitter data file. What should I do?

Receiving a data file from Instagram can take up to 48 hours. If this time period has passed, please do the following:

Ensure that the email address you provided to Instagram or Twitter is correct.
Check your spam folder and trash.
Send Instagram or Twitter a second request.

If you are still having difficulty obtaining the file, please contact us via email at stirlab@ucf.edu or send a text to (407) 984-6180.

I can’t view images and videos in my data. What should I do?

If you are using Firefox, your images and videos may not display correctly. To fix this, follow the steps below:

Open Firefox options.
Select "Privacy & Security".
Select "Enhanced Tracking Protection".
Select "Manage Exceptions".
Add https://stirlab.org/ to the list.