A new preprint analyzing 295 studies from top journals like *Science* and *Nature* found that nearly one-third of social media research has undisclosed ties to industry. The authors tracked author affiliations and funding sources, revealing a systemic lack of transparency that may be skewing the field's focus away from platform accountability.

These conflicts of interest mirror historical issues in food and tobacco research, where corporate funding often redirects attention from product harms to consumer behavior. The analysis suggests industry-linked studies disproportionately examine how users share misinformation, rather than investigating platform algorithms or business models that may contribute to societal problems.

Researchers argue this isn't necessarily malicious, but rather a symptom of inconsistent disclosure norms in social science compared to medicine. The findings pressure journals to audit past publications and establish stricter guardrails, especially as public funding cuts push universities toward private sector partnerships with minimal oversight.