What is a potential downside of using altmetrics?

The potential downside of using altmetrics is that they can be manipulated through social media. Altmetrics, which measure the online attention and engagement a research output receives (such as mentions in social media, news articles, and policy documents), are susceptible to bias because they rely on the public's interactions. For instance, individuals or organizations may deliberately promote certain publications to artificially inflate their visibility and perceived impact. This manipulation can distort an accurate understanding of a publication's true academic influence or contribution to the field.

In contrast, traditional metrics such as impact factor rely on citations within scholarly journals, making them less susceptible to such external influences. Although altmetrics can provide valuable insight into the social impact of research, their inherent vulnerability to manipulation necessitates careful interpretation and consideration alongside traditional metrics.