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We are in the early stages of a new, uncertain era of demographic research, driven by the scientific possibilities that are opened up by new sources of data, such as the digital traces that arise from ubiquitous social computing, massive longitudinal datasets produced by the digitization of historical records, and information about previously inaccessible populations reached through innovations in classic modes of data collection. Such new data sources seemingly offer exciting opportunities to quantify demographic phenomena at a scale and resolution once unimaginable. In this commentary, we describe five promising new sources of demographic data and their potential appeal: detailed patterns of human mobility and migration, population-scale measurements of social connectedness, minute-by-minute records of cultural change, detailed timelines of partnership formation, and more. Yet, realizing the full potential of these data sources will demand innovative methodological developments and continued investment in high-quality, traditional surveys and censuses. Together, such advances will lead demographers to develop new theories and revisit and sharpen old ones.
Breen et al. (Thu,) studied this question.