Date: January 20, 2025
This data management plan (DMP) outlines procedures for collecting, storing, processing, and sharing data generated during the sesta research project. The project investigates how Instagram's content moderation practices impact marginalized communities, particularly sex workers, Black creators, and plus-sized individuals. Data will be collected through surveys, participant submissions, and analysis of public platform activity. Protecting participants’ confidentiality and ensuring compliance with ethical and legal guidelines are the plan's top priorities.
Multiple forms will be utilized to unlink the participant and their submissions. There are 6 forms associated with this project:
The participant ID data will be stored in an offline document stored in the Data Manager’s and Researcher’s personal computers in password protected directories that cannot be accessible through any other path. Descriptions of the data will be minimal to reduce references to research to obscure the purpose of the data if uncovered.
The primary survey form will not request any identifiable information. The demographic details are vague enough to prevent retroactive identification. For example, age will be a range instead of a date of birth.
The ultimate objective of the survey is to extract participants’ thoughts and experiences with content moderation on Instagram and other platforms.
The survey form does not request examples of media, the participant is directed to a separate form to allow users to upload images.
The specific content requested from users are examples of flagged posts, including captions and hashtags (with explicit consent). Because these visuals may contain identifiable details, they are submitted using a dedicated form distinct from the others.
The content submitted via the “content collection” form will be stored in a server not connected to the form server. The only information connecting the associated forms will be an anonymized random number assigned as the participant ID.