Instagram has evolved from a simple photo-sharing app into one of the most powerful digital platforms in the world. With billions of users, massive engagement levels, and a central role in influencer culture and e-commerce, Instagram has become a key part of many companies’ technology stacks. Developers frequently rely on Instagram’s APIs to build analytics dashboards, schedule content, manage influencers, deliver insights, or maintain customer support channels.
However, Instagram’s API ecosystem has undergone substantial changes over the years—most notably the transition away from the legacy Instagram API toward the newer Instagram Graph API and Instagram Basic Display API. The recent API updates introduced by Instagram (Meta) have a significant impact on permissions, data access, features, and how developers must structure their integrations.
This article provides a deep, comprehensive, and practical guide to these new API changes—what they mean, why they exist, and how developers should adapt. We’ll break everything down in a clear, developer-friendly format, with tables 📊, examples, and best practices.
1. Why Instagram Keeps Updating Their API
Instagram’s API updates are usually driven by a blend of:
- Security and privacy requirements 🔐
- Regulatory pressure (GDPR, CCPA, etc.)
- Platform integrity and anti-abuse efforts
- Shifts in product strategy (e.g., emphasis on business accounts)
- Commercial alignment with Meta’s ecosystem
- Feature expansion such as Reels, messaging, and shopping
These updates are generally positive for long-term platform health, but they often introduce complexity for developers relying on older integrations.
Recent changes continue this pattern: they tighten restrictions, modernize endpoints, and expand data capabilities—but only for certain account types and with new permission requirements.
2. Overview of Key API Changes
Instagram’s new API changes can be grouped into several categories:
(1) Permissions & Access Model Updates
Instagram increasingly restricts access to sensitive data. This includes:
- New permission scopes
- Stricter approval processes
- Business/Creator account requirements
- App review changes
- Updated rate limits
(2) Deprecation of Legacy Endpoints
Older endpoints for:
- Follower data
- Likes list
- Comments read/access
- Hashtag search
- User insights
have been deprecated or replaced.
(3) Expansion of Supported Features
Instagram now supports:
- Reels insights 🎬
- Messaging API for Creator accounts 📩
- More detailed media insights
- Mentions & tags lookup
- Product tagging features
- User-generated content sourcing
(4) Stability, Reliability & Performance Improvements
Meta continues to unify Instagram with Facebook’s Graph API framework, offering:
- Graph API versioning
- More predictable rate limits
- Consistent error codes
- Better monitoring
We’ll explore each area in detail.
3. Updated Permissions Model
One of the most important API changes involves permissions.
Where the old API allowed more open access, Instagram now follows a principle of:
Least privilege
Developers only get permission for what their app demonstrably needs.
3.1 New Permission Categories
Instagram has introduced new permission scopes with granular access:
| Permission | Description | Allowed Account Types |
|---|---|---|
instagram_basic | Basic profile info and media | Personal, Business, Creator |
instagram_content_publish | Publishing content programmatically | Business, Creator |
instagram_manage_insights | Insights & metrics | Business, Creator |
instagram_manage_comments | Read & manage comments | Business, Creator |
pages_show_list | Needed for connecting IG business accounts via FB pages | Business, Creator |
instagram_messaging | Direct messaging access | Creator (expanded recently) |
💡 Important: Some permissions now require detailed justification during Meta’s App Review process.
3.2 Stricter App Review Requirements
Apps must now:
- Provide video screencasts demonstrating use
- Explain data usage in detail
- Show in-app UI clearly
- Justify storing data (if any)
- Conform to privacy policies
- Avoid prohibited use cases
Apps failing any of these are rejected.
3.3 Business or Creator Accounts Required
Most powerful features now require:
- Instagram Business accounts
or - Creator accounts
Personal accounts have very limited API support.
4. Deprecation of Legacy Endpoints
Instagram continues to phase out old endpoints. If your app relies on any of these, you must migrate.
4.1 No More Follower List
The old GET /users/{user-id}/followers endpoint is no longer available.
Developers can only access:
- follower counts
- audience demographics (for Business/Creator accounts)
Not the follower list itself.
This is a major shift, heavily motivated by privacy regulations.
4.2 Likes & Engagement List Restrictions
You can still retrieve counts of likes, but not the list of users who liked a post.
This means:
❌ No more “who liked my post” analysis
❌ No more social graph mapping
4.3 Hashtag Search Changes
The new Hashtag Search API:
- Works only for Business accounts
- Requires
instagram_manage_insights - Limits the number of searchable hashtags
- Has stricter rate limits
Many influencer tools and analytics dashboards needed full redesigns because of this.
4.4 Comments Access Tightened
Comment access now depends on:
- Account type
- Permission scopes
- Whether your app passed review
You can still:
- Fetch comments
- Reply
- Hide/unhide
But only under strict conditions.
5. Major Feature Additions in the New API
Now let’s look at the good news: Instagram has introduced several powerful new capabilities.
5.1 Reels Support 🎬
Reels have become central to Instagram’s growth, so the API now includes:
- Reels insights
- Reels publishing (limited)
- Reels metadata
- Engagement metrics
This opens doors for:
- Social scheduling apps
- Analytics platforms
- AI-generated video pipelines
- Influencer campaign reporting
5.2 Messaging API for Creator Accounts 📩
Instagram previously restricted messaging API access to Business accounts.
New updates introduce:
✔ Support for Creator accounts
✔ Advanced messaging features
✔ Automation tools
✔ Rule-based replies
✔ Message threading
✔ Story replies support
This change is huge for:
- Creator workflow automation
- Chatbot integrations
- CRM tools
- AI concierge services
5.3 Mentions & Tags Lookup
Developers can now:
- Retrieve media where the business is tagged
- Access mentions
- Repost or engage with UGC (within policy)
This is important for:
- Brand monitoring
- Content curation workflows
- UGC-driven campaigns
5.4 Improved Insights & Metrics 📊
Meta has expanded insights for media objects, including:
- Reach
- Saves
- Shares
- Video retention
- Story metrics
- Reels completion rate
- Audience demographics (business accounts)
This lets analytics apps produce far richer dashboards.
5.5 Product Tagging & eCommerce Integration
Instagram pushes shopping features, and the API reflects this:
- Product tagging support
- Catalog connection improvements
- Commerce eligibility endpoints
- Checkout flows
This is major for eCommerce platforms and merchants.
6. API Versioning & Stability Improvements
Instagram’s integration with the Facebook Graph API structure supports versioning, meaning:
- Each major version lasts ~2 years
- Deprecations are scheduled
- Backwards-incompatibility is controlled
- Developers get predictable updates
This allows smoother long-term planning.
7. Technical Adjustments Developers Must Make
Let’s examine how developers should adapt their architectures and codebases.
7.1 Migration to the Graph API
Legacy endpoints may no longer function. Developers must move to:
https://graph.facebook.com/v17.0/{ig-id}/...
or the most current version.
7.2 Updating OAuth Permissions
Ensure your authorization flow requests correct scopes, for example:
instagram_basic
instagram_manage_insights
instagram_content_publish
instagram_manage_comments
Misaligned scopes will produce OAuthException errors.
7.3 Handling Stricter Rate Limits
Applications should:
- Implement caching
- Batch requests
- Use webhooks where possible
- Avoid polling loops
- Monitor rate-limit headers
The new limits are less forgiving.
7.4 Shifting from Pull to Push Architecture
Instagram encourages webhooks instead of polling.
Supported webhook events include:
- Comments
- Mentions
- Messaging
- Media creation
- Insights updates
Webhooks reduce rate limit issues and improve user experience.
7.5 Data Storage Compliance
Developers must:
- Avoid storing unnecessary data
- Encrypt all stored data
- Provide automatic deletion paths
- Support user data requests
Meta requires compliance with privacy laws.
8. Real-World Impact: Who Is Affected?
Some industries will feel these changes more acutely.
8.1 Social Media Scheduling Platforms
Benefits:
- Better publishing support
- Reels posting
Challenges:
- Stricter content permissions
- App review hurdles
8.2 Analytics & Reporting Tools
Benefits:
- Richer insights
- More media metrics
Challenges:
- Loss of follower lists
- Hashtag search limitations
8.3 Influencer Marketing Platforms
Benefits:
- Improved UGC access
- Mentions/tags retrieval
Challenges:
- Limitations around personal accounts
8.4 CRM & Messaging Automation
Benefits:
- Creator messaging API support
- Conversation automation
Challenges:
- Stricter message sending rules
- Privacy compliance requirements
9. Best Practices for Developers Moving Forward
9.1 Build with Versioning Awareness
Always target the latest stable version, but prepare for:
- Deprecation changes
- Version sunset calendars
- Automated regression testing
9.2 Embrace Webhooks
Polling is inefficient and increasingly discouraged.
Webhooks:
- Reduce rate limit usage
- Offer real-time updates
- Improve scalability
9.3 Design for Permission Granularity
Applications should dynamically adjust based on:
- Available permissions
- Account type
- Token capabilities
This avoids breakage.
9.4 Provide Clear In-App UI for App Review
Meta reviews apps thoroughly.
You should prepare:
- Clear workflows
- Transparent data usage screens
- Easily accessible ToS and privacy policy
9.5 Expect Changing Privacy Rules
Instagram may tighten access again.
Plan your system to remain flexible.
10. Migration Checklist
Below is a helpful checklist for developers:
✔ Account Type Requirements
- Switch to Business/Creator account
- Ensure it’s linked to a Facebook Page
✔ Permissions & OAuth
- Update your scopes
- Rebuild your login flow
✔ Webhook Setup
- Subscribe to webhooks
- Test event delivery
- Implement secure verification
✔ API Endpoints
- Remove deprecated endpoint calls
- Move to Graph API equivalents
✔ Insights
- Update your metric retrieval logic
- Add new metrics (Reels, engagement, etc.)
✔ Messaging
- Implement permission checks
- Support threaded conversations
✔ Storage & Privacy
- Remove disallowed data
- Encrypt stored media IDs
11. Common Errors Developers Encounter (and Fixes)
❌ “Unsupported get request”
Likely calling a deprecated endpoint.
❌ “OAuthException: (#200) Insufficient permission”
Missing required scopes.
❌ “This user is not a business account”
Your app is attempting an action unavailable for personal accounts.
❌ “App not approved for this feature”
You need to pass Meta’s App Review.
❌ “Rate limit exceeded”
Optimize caching & switch to webhooks.
12. Final Thoughts
Instagram’s new API changes can feel overwhelming, especially for developers maintaining legacy systems. However, these changes create a safer, more scalable, and more capable environment for building modern apps.
By embracing:
- Updated permissions
- Graph API endpoint structure
- Webhooks
- Advanced insights
- Reels support
- Messaging API enhancements
developers can build more powerful, compliant, and future-proof solutions.
Instagram’s direction is clear:
More control, more security, and more integration with Meta’s ecosystem—balanced with new capabilities that unlock richer experiences for users and businesses.
Adapting now ensures your apps remain stable, approved, and competitive in a rapidly evolving social media ecosystem 🚀.
