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

About 300 longer-running investigations using Twitter messages have been shut down due to the new pricing for access to Twitter’s API. Researchers who previously could use the API for free will have to pay between $42,000 and $210,000 per month.

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

Twitter has always offered researchers free access to its API from its inception until now. As a result, much more research has been done on the basis of Twitter data than on that of other social media. Access on platforms like Facebook and Instagram is much more difficult.

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