Archived Social Media

The National Library is now collecting and preserving social media content.

The social media collection is in the early stages of development and is not yet available for public access. We welcome the public to contribute your social media content to be a part of our National Collection.

Why preserve social media

Social media has become an integral part of how Singaporeans communicate, share their experiences, and document their lives in the 21st century. Collectively, social media content therefore represents a vital resource, helping future researchers understand what Singapore and the world at large was like during this period. It is also part of our national heritage, and something we can look back on fondly, and pass on to future generations as part of our memory.

Yet we cannot take for granted that social media content will always remain available for access. Information on the internet disappears for all kinds of reasons. Social media platforms may shut down or downsize, their terms of access may change, and underlying technologies may evolve in a way that changes how content looks or functions, or even renders them inaccessible. In fact, in the long term, it is almost certain that all these things will eventually happen.

To safeguard against this, the National Library collects and preserves social media, ensuring Singapore’s digital memories and stories remain accessible to future researchers and Singaporeans regardless of changes to platforms or technology.

Contribute social media content for future generations

The National Library collects the following social media content:

Facebook, Instagram, X accounts
YouTube and TikTok videos

We are interested in content from prominent individuals and organisations, and content related to significant events that have shaped Singapore's political, economic, or social development.

You can help to preserve Singapore’s digital memory by recommending social media content to us.

Guide on exporting your social media content

You can safeguard your social media content by exporting the data into your own personal devices. This ensures that you retain a copy of your data that is accessible offline, even when the platform is no longer available.

If you would like to contribute your social media content to the National Library, please submit your social media account recommendations and await further instructions before downloading your archives.

Facebook, Instagram, X

The instructions can usually be found on the social media platform's user help pages, which are listed below:

YouTube and TikTok videos

The videos can be downloaded directly from the respective platform.