THE INTERNET DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE
The National Internet Observatory
The National Internet Observatory aims to help researchers understand how people behave online and how platforms structure what people see.
The Observatory is hosted at Northeastern University and is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
About the project
The National Internet Observatory (the NIO) invites residents of the United States to participate in a scientific study to understand the role the Internet plays in modern society. The objective of the Observatory is to shed light on people’s experiences online.
The Observatory works in a two step process: (1) Collecting data from participants on their online experiences. This involves loading software on computers that sends information back to the Observatory. (2) Providing privacy-preserving access to researchers to study the Internet.
The NIO welcomes participants from all backgrounds. Researchers will use these data to understand how the Internet affects individuals and society more generally.
Interested in volunteering? Click here to learn more.
Contact Us
Are you interested in joining the IDI team or have a story to tell? reach out to us here.