Deposit Data to SOMAR

Thank you for your interest in submitting a dataset to The Social Media Archive at ICPSR (SOMAR). You can create a new study in our new self-deposit system.

What types of data does SOMAR accept?

SOMAR accepts research data from and about social media platforms.

What should my deposit include?

  1. Descriptive information about your dataset
    To submit a dataset to SOMAR, you will need to provide descriptive information about your dataset and data files. The dataset submission form has some required fields, including Title, Summary, and Subjects, and several optional fields covering study design and methodology. We recommend filling in as many of the optional fields as are relevant to your data to make your dataset as reusable as possible.
  2. Documentation Files
    Documentation files are integral to reuse of a data collection and should thoroughly explain the data collection. Examples of documentation files include codebooks, data dictionaries, copies of data collection instruments, user guides, README files, summary statistics, project summaries, and bibliographies of publications using the data.
    The submission form allows you to upload data and documentation files up to 30GB each. Only upload public files through the deposit form. If you have files that need to be restricted due to sensitive or identifiable data, email us at somar-help@umich.edu.
  3. Data Files
    Submit the data files associated with your research. The submission form allows you to upload files up to 30GB in size. If you have data files larger than 30GB, please email somar-help@umich.edu

How do I submit restricted data to SOMAR?

You may only upload public files through the deposit form. If you are unsure if your files should be restricted, all datasets will undergo review by SOMAR staff before they are published. If you know your files need to have access restrictions before depositing, email us at somar-help@umich.edu

What happens after I submit my dataset?

After you submit your dataset, you will receive a confirmation email that your submission has been received. All datasets will be reviewed by SOMAR staff before publication. SOMAR staff will contact you with any questions about your submission and may request additional information or files. We aim to contact you within 5 business days of your deposit, but please note that additional factors such as the size and complexity of the deposit, or the volume of deposits to SOMAR, may affect this timeline.

Can I update my dataset after it is submitted?

Yes, SOMAR staff will guide you through the process to update your dataset before it is published.

Can I update my dataset after it is published?

Depositors cannot update their own datasets after they are published, but SOMAR staff are able to make updates at any time. Email us at somar-help@umich.edu if you need to make updates to a published dataset.