Chapter 14. Digital and Online Research

The digital landscape. Internet and mobile use has expanded rapidly in the region, but access is unequal across and within countries. Popular platforms differ: Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp and Telegram are widely used, with national favourites such as LINE in Thailand and Zalo in Vietnam, and in some countries the platforms available are restricted [68]. Always check current platform use and access conditions for your study population.

Methods. Online surveys, digital ethnography, social media analysis, web scraping, digital archives and remote interviews all offer opportunities. They also bring bias: online samples are not representative of the whole population [70].

Ethics online. Follow the Menlo Report and Association of Internet Researchers guidelines: consider whether data are truly public, whether people expect their posts to be analysed, risks of re-identification, and potential harm to groups [10][69][70]. Even “public” posts can expose people to legal or social risk, especially in countries with strict speech laws. Avoid quoting identifiable posts without consent where harm is possible.

Legal issues. Platform terms of service, copyright, data protection laws and cybercrime or cybersecurity laws affect data collection and sharing. Some countries restrict the export of certain data or require data to remain local [25].

Remote research. Online interviews and surveys can reduce costs and risks but may exclude people without devices or reliable connections, and may lower trust. Consider hybrid designs and compensate participants for data costs.

Security. Use secure platforms, encrypted storage, strong authentication and separate devices if the topic is sensitive. Be aware of surveillance and the risk that communications with participants could be monitored.

Generative AI and other tools. If you use artificial intelligence tools for transcription, translation, coding or writing, check institutional and journal policies, protect confidential data (do not upload identifiable or sensitive data to external services without approval), verify outputs (especially for lower-resource languages, where errors are more likely), and disclose use as required.

Misinformation research. Studying false information raises ethical issues about exposure to harmful content, researcher safety and the risk of amplifying falsehoods.

Reflection: Which online data will you use, and what is your plan to protect people who appear in it?