Meta Content Library and API

Meta Content Library application guide

To access Meta Content Library (MCL) and MCL (MCL) API, apply through Research Tools Manager (RTM). Review the eligibility requirements and then read the application guide on this page before you apply.

The Secure Data Access Center (CASD, Le Centre d’Accès Sécurisé aux Données) independently reviews applications for access to MCL.

  • If you are the lead researcher of your team, submit an application for your research program and organization and send invites to your collaborators.
  • If you are a collaborator, you’ll receive an invite email and complete details about yourself and your organization.

The current version of Research Tools Manager does not work on mobile devices. Use a laptop or desktop computer to apply for access with RTM.

Applying for access

During the application process, lead researchers will provide information about the following four areas. Collaborators will provide information on the first two areas.

  1. Personal information
  2. Organization
  3. Research details
  4. Collaborators

Note that CASD verifies eligibility for access based on the details you provide. At any point before submitting, you can save your application. You can return to it by selecting the application in RTM.

You will receive an email from Meta regarding the outcome of your application.

Note: Applications must be submitted in English.

Personal information

Meta collects and verifies certain personal information in order to evaluate your application. Use the Personal information section to submit your name and organizational email address and to verify your email address.

Follow these steps:

  1. Visit Research Tools Manager and click the Get started button in the Step 1: Submit application section. This takes you to the Personal information section of the application.

    If you are a collaborator who receives an invitation, the link in the email takes you to RTM. Click on the View invite link and confirm that the information matches your research program and lead researcher. If it’s not your research program, decline the invitation.

  2. In the Personal information section, enter your details and click Next.
  3. If this is your first time applying for MCL access, you will be sent a confirmation email. Enter the verification code that you received in that email.
  4. Click Next to be taken to the Organization section.

For more details on how to fill out each field in this section, see the table below.

Field Guidance for applicants

Legal first name

Legal last name

Preferred name (optional)

Your country

Your country of residence

Your state or province

Your state or province of residence

Your city

Your city of residence

Organizational email

Use the email address given to you by your associated research institution or organization. Do not supply a personal email address.

Your discipline or area of expertise:

  • Business communication
  • Civic communication
  • Climate and environment
  • Computer science
  • Coordinate inauthentic behavior
  • Digital culture
  • Education
  • Election monitoring
  • Fact-checking
  • Hate speech and extremism
  • Health communication
  • Journalism, news and media
  • Marketing
  • Other
  • Political communication
  • Public health
  • Science communication
  • Trust and safety

Select one from the dropdown list.

ORCID iD (optional)

This is the unique, persistent digital identifier provided by ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID).

Your resume or CV (optional)

Upload your resume or CV in PDF or Word format.

Organization

Enter the required information in the Organization section of the application and click Next, taking you to the Research details section.

For more details on how to fill out each field in this section, see the table below.

This field will be filled out when your organization name is recognized. Ensure that it is correct. If your organization wasn't recognized and you entered it manually, include the country where it is located.
Field Guidance for applicants

Organization name

Search for your organization’s name in the dropdown. If you do not see it, enter the name manually. Make sure to enter the full name of your organization.

Organization country

Organization type:

  • Academic institution
  • Government agency
  • Independent research organization (IRO)
  • Intergovernmental organization (IGO)
  • Non-governmental organization (NGO)
  • Other

Select one from the dropdown list.

Organization website

Enter the landing page of the website of your organization.

Department name

If there is no separate department within your institution, write "N/A" in this field.

Your role at organization:

  • Assistant professor
  • Associate professor
  • Independent researcher
  • Lecturer
  • Master’s student
  • Other
  • PhD student
  • Postdoctoral fellow
  • Professor
  • Staff researcher

Select one from the dropdown list. If you select Other, specify your role in the Your role at organization (other) text field.

Link to your profile or page on your organization's website

Provide a URL to help us verify your organizational affiliation. Acceptable links may include an active organizational web profile or bio, an organizational directory or staff list, or the webpage of your research group or lab.

If you don’t have a URL, please provide an explanation in this field and proceed with submitting your application. After submission, CASD may request additional documentation when reviewing your application.

Links to personal websites, code repositories or social media profiles are not allowed.

Research details (lead researchers only)

If you are filling the application out as a collaborator, skip to Terms and Conditions.

If you are filling the application out as a lead researcher, complete the Research details section to describe your research program. Note that the title that you specify is how your research program will be known throughout its lifecycle.

For more details on how to fill out each field in this section, see the table below.

Field Guidance for applicants

Research program title

Enter a descriptive name for your research program. For example, "Social media usage patterns among European political parties". 60 characters max.

This title cannot be changed once your application is submitted.

Research program description

Explain in greater detail how your proposed research program or project will contribute to advancing knowledge within a scientific discipline or how it furthers social good in the public interest. Your response should also describe your main area or areas of focus, objectives, or driving questions that you hope to answer with your research.

Relevant data for your research

Explain in greater detail what types of MCL data you plan to access and describe how that data is relevant to your research project or program outlined above. For more information about the available data types, see the product documentation for MCL.

Will your research contribute to the detection, identification and understanding of systemic risks in the European Union?

Choose the applicable answer.

Select research tools:

  • MCL (web-based tool)
  • MCL API (via secure computing platform)

The first option, Meta Content Library (web-based tool), is automatically selected.

To also apply for MCL API access, select Meta Content Library API (via secure computing platform).

Select a secure computing platform:

  • Meta Secure Research Environment
  • SOMAR Virtual Data Enclave

If you are also applying for MCL API, choose a secure computing platform to access MCL API. Learn more about Meta Secure Research Environment and SOMAR Virtual Data Enclave.

If you are a lead researcher, you will be able to select which secure computing platform you and your research team will use. All collaborators under a single lead researcher must use the same secure computing platform. In addition, if you are approved for multiple research programs, you must use the same secure computing platform for all of these.

Required confirmations: Research contribution to public interest

MCL is available for research that advances scientific knowledge or furthers social good in the public interest.

Required confirmations: Read and understand MCL documentation

Understanding MCL before you apply ensures that its data are appropriate to your research goals.

Collaborators

In the Collaborators section, lead researchers can optionally add the institutional email addresses of collaborators to invite them to participate. Each invitee will receive an email with a link that takes them to an application where they can accept the invite and enter their details to be evaluated for joining the research program. Note that collaborators will be evaluated after the lead researcher application is approved. You can also invite collaborators after submitting the application.

When you are ready, click Next to be taken to the Terms and Conditions section.

Terms and conditions

In the Terms and Conditions section, read and understand the Meta Research Tools Terms and Conditions, which govern your access and use of MCL. If you understand and agree to the terms, check the appropriate boxes and click Agree & submit application.

If your institution or organization requires an agreement with Meta to govern access to MCL, an Information Sharing Agreement (ISA) is available, in addition to the individual clickthrough of the terms and conditions. The executed ISA may apply to multiple research programs, though new applications for each research proposal must be submitted. Once you click Agree & submit application please reach out to metaresearchapplications@meta.com specifying that your organization also requires an ISA. Meta will follow-up accordingly.

After application submission

After you submit your application, you can view its progress by clicking on its name in RTM. When you do, you will see a box that shows you the application status.

Application resubmissions

CASD’s independent reviewer may require additional information from you in order to proceed with reviewing your application. You will receive an email that describes what other information is needed from you.

When you receive this notification, please return to RTM to update your application and resubmit for review. Just update the fields that needed more clarification. Your application can only be marked as Needs more information twice. If the application still isn't complete after two requests for more information, it will be rejected. You will then need to submit a new application to access MCL.

Invite collaborators

You can invite more collaborators by clicking on the Invite collaborators button. Each collaborator will receive an invitation email. They can accept the invitation and fill out an application in RTM. Note that the collaborator application will only be reviewed once the application for the lead researcher has been approved.

Status

Your application status can take one of the values in the table.

Application status Definition

Application under independent review

Reviews is being independently conducted by the Secure Data Access Center, CASD. Reviews typically take 2-3 weeks.

Application in process

Application review has been completed by CASD. Meta is processing the application. Meta review can take 2-3 weeks.

Application approved

The application is approved. Access is granted to MCL web interface and, if applicable, to MCL API on Meta Secure Research Environment for approved research programs only.

If you have applied for MCL API access on the SOMAR Virtual Data Enclave, the SOMAR team will reach out for next steps on how to access the API.

Application rejected

The application is rejected. Access to MCL web interface and to MCL API, if applicable, is not granted.

Access renewal

Access to MCL is granted for two years. You will be able to extend your access for two additional years by confirming the details of your application and the need for continued access. The feature to support this workflow will be added to RTM in the future.

Completion of your research program

As a lead researcher, please notify Meta via metaresearchapplications@meta.com for offboarding instructions if:

  • You and your team have completed your approved research program or you no longer need access to MCL
  • Your collaborator has left the research team or no longer needs access to MCL