Submit a Dataset

Thank you for your interest in submitting a dataset to The Social Media Archive at ICPSR (SOMAR). Before you begin, you may view the SOMAR Dataset Submission Guide for more details on the submission form.


Click the button above to get started or click here to see your saved submissions.



Submission FAQs

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
  2. To submit a dataset to SOMAR, you will need to provide descriptive information about your dataset and data files. The dataset submission form has five required fields (Deposit Agreement, Contributors, 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.

  3. Documentation Files
  4. 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 5GB each. Please upload all documentation files about your data through the submission form, so they can be made publicly available to SOMAR users.

  5. Data Files
  6. Please submit the data files associated with your research. The submission form allows you to upload files up to 5GB in size. If you have data files larger than 5GB, please email somar-help@umich.edu.

How do I submit restricted data to SOMAR?

You may upload restricted data files under 5GB in size through the regular submission form. You can indicate that the files should be restricted, and all datasets will undergo review by SOMAR staff before they are published. If you have data files larger than 5GB, please email 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. Submitted datasets will be placed in a validation queue to be reviewed by SOMAR staff. SOMAR staff will contact you with any questions about your submission and may request additional information or files. Please note the initial review can take up to 2 weeks. Additional factors, such as the size and complexity of the submission or the volume of submissions to SOMAR, may affect this timeline.

Can I update my dataset after it is submitted?

Yes. You can continue to update your dataset before it is published. Use the link in your confirmation email to access your draft dataset record and click “Edit publication in form” to add or update dataset information. If you would like to update your dataset after it is published, please email somar-help@umich.edu.