SocialScope – Privacy Policy

Last update: October 9, 2026

SocialScope is a Chrome extension created by researchers at the University of Washington. The purpose of this privacy policy is to highlight which data SocialScope will collect and how the data will be used.

Collection & Use of Data

Why we collect your information

This project will help us better understand the user experience on social media. We will use the information we collect to:

• Advance knowledge through open research and study.
• Recommend new design practices to researchers and practitioners to improve social media.

For more information about this project, please email socialscope.uw@outlook.com.

How we collect your information

We collect data through a Chrome extension called SocialScope. The data is encrypted and transferred to our server over a secure HTTPS connection. It is stored on a server accessible only to researchers involved in this project.

What information we collect

If you choose to participate, we will collect your responses to the survey questions, as well as information related to your X account, the posts that appear in your algorithmic and chronological feeds, and the posts you have engaged with in the past.

We do not collect private information such as direct messages, passwords, or notifications.

All data collected will be used only for research purposes.

Voluntary Participation

Installing the extension and participating in the study is voluntary. You can withdraw at any time while using the extension or by removing the extension from Chrome. Removing it stops all data collection immediately. If you withdraw using the extension's "Withdraw from the study" link, all of your data and responses are deleted from our server.

Sharing

How we share your information

No publishing: The information we collect will not be shared publicly.
Access: Raw data will be shared only with the research team and service providers who need to process this information and are subject to non-disclosure obligations.
Other sharing: We may disclose any collected information when required by law, when we have your permission, or when needed to protect our rights, privacy, safety, users, or the general public.

Protection

Who to contact

This research project has been approved by the University of Washington Institutional Review Board (IRB) to ensure compliance with ethical and regulatory requirements for the protection of human subjects (protocol number: STUDY00026694). The extension is enabled only for individuals who have accepted the consent form shared externally.

If you have any questions, please email socialscope.uw@outlook.com. Participants who wish to access, change, or delete the information they have provided should contact us with their requests.