Due to the changes announced by Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, regarding how data can be collected through their API, which took effect on December 11th, 2022, we have made adjustments to how Mentionlytics collects mentions on these platforms.
Technically, the standalone Instagram API is closed and has been replaced by Facebook API’s extended functionality.
The key requirement to start collecting Instagram mentions is to authorize at least one Instagram Business account through Facebook, as required by Meta’s policy.
⚠️Important Note: We can monitor only hashtags, not the caption in text.
How to Authorize an Instagram Social Profile and Enable Mentions
Step 1: Open your Trackers list
Go to your dashboard and locate the Mention Trackers box.
Step 2: Choose the Tracker you want to update
Hover over the Tracker where you want to add an Instagram social profile.
Step 3: Click (+)
Click the (+) Add button.
Step 4: Select “I want to add a Social Profile”
From the options available, select: “I want to add a Social Profile.”
Step 5: Add the Instagram profile
Paste either:
The Instagram profile URL, or
The profile/page name
Then select the correct platform: Instagram.
Step 6: Authorize with Facebook (required)
When prompted, complete the authorization via Facebook. This step is required by Meta to unlock the maximum available Instagram data through their API.
💡Important: After adding and authorizing an Instagram Business Profile, you can enable the Instagram source for your keywords (select it manually from data sources in keyword setup) and also add other business profiles (owned or not) without requiring authorization to track their posts.
Step 7: Click “Update” to collect real-time mentions
Click “Update” to apply the changes and begin collecting Instagram mentions in real time.
Please note that you can also add a social profile via the Account Configuration page.
Good to Know
Instagram mention availability depends on Meta’s API permissions and the type of Instagram account being authorized.
If authorization expires or is removed, Mentionlytics will stop collecting Instagram mentions. You’ll need to re-authorize to resolve this issue.
Authorization tokens typically expire every ~60 days.
Users receive a notification email 3 and 1 day before expiration and another on the day it expires.
Profiles needing attention show a red indicator in Account Configuration.
There are limitations regarding the type of posts we can capture from unauthorized added pages. Read more information about this here.
How to Reauthorize Your Instagram Account
Go to Menu.
Open Settings.
Select Account Configuration.
Click “Authorize” beside the affected profile.
🔧Troubleshooting Tip: If you’ve added the profile but you’re not seeing mentions:
Repeat the steps above and ensure Facebook authorization is completed successfully.
Confirm you clicked “Update” at the end.
Make sure that this page is actively posting as we collect real-time mentions, not past posts.
Need Assistance?🤝
If you experience any difficulty during the authorization process, our team is always here to help.
Feel free to reach out via chat or schedule a consultation with your Account Manager for setup assistance.