Instagram API Get Followers List Guide

Instagram API Get Followers List Guide

Instagram has become one of the most powerful platforms for businesses, creators, and influencers. Accessing follower data programmatically can help you understand your audience better, automate reports, and enhance engagement strategies. In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know to use the Instagram API to get a followers list securely and effectively.

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Understanding Instagram Graph API vs Legacy API

Before diving in, it's essential to distinguish between the Instagram Graph API and the now-deprecated Legacy API.

• Instagram Legacy API
• Deprecated in June 2020; previously allowed basic profile and follower data access but lacked modern security measures.
• Instagram Graph API
• Current official interface by Meta (Facebook). Offers business and creator account metrics, structured endpoints, and enhanced security controls. Follower list access is limited to authorized business/creator accounts.

Key Differences

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Set Up a Facebook Developer Account and Create an App

To work with the Instagram Graph API, you'll need a Facebook Developer account because Instagram's API is managed under Meta's umbrella.

Steps:

1. Create Developer Account
2. Go to Facebook for Developers and log in with your Meta account.
3. Create a New App

• Click Create App → For Everything Else or Business category (depending on use case).
• Select Instagram Basic Display or Instagram Graph API depending on required capabilities.

1. Link to an Instagram Business Account
2. Associate either a Business or Creator Instagram account with a Facebook Page.

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Generate Access Tokens with Correct Permissions

Access tokens are necessary to authenticate API requests. These must be requested with scopes that grant the ability to read follower data.

Required Permissions

• `user_profile` — Access profile info.
• `user_followers` — Access list of followers.

Steps to Generate Tokens

1. In your Facebook App dashboard, navigate to Roles and assign test users.
2. Use the Graph API Explorer or an OAuth flow to request the necessary permissions.
3. Exchange short-lived tokens for long-lived tokens via:

GET https://graph.facebook.com/v12.0/oauth/access_token
    ?grant_type=fb_exchange_token
    &client_id={app-id}
    &client_secret={app-secret}
    &fb_exchange_token={short-lived-token}

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Retrieve Followers Data via `/user_id/followers`

Once authenticated, you can make requests to the followers endpoint:

GET https://graph.facebook.com/v12.0/{user_id}/followers
    ?access_token={long-lived-token}

Notes:

• Replace `{user_id}` with the Instagram Business Account ID.
• Responses will include follower user IDs and profile metadata (permitted by scopes).

Example Response:

{
  "data": [
    { "id": "17841405793187218", "username": "follower_one" },
    { "id": "17841405822387219", "username": "follower_two" }
  ],
  "paging": {
    "cursors": { "before": "XYZ", "after": "ABC" }
  }
}

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Handle Pagination for Large Follower Lists

Instagram Graph API will paginate large datasets to protect resources.

Paginating Requests

• Check the `paging` object in API responses.
• Use the `after` cursor to fetch the next batch:

GET https://graph.facebook.com/v12.0/{user_id}/followers
    ?access_token={token}
    &after={cursor}

Loop until no further pages exist.

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Respect Privacy Rules and Instagram Rate Limits

Meta enforces strict AUP (Acceptable Use Policies):

• Privacy: You may only access data granted by users or accounts you control.
• Rate Limits: Graph API has per-user and per-app limits; exceeding them can cause temporary bans.

Tip: Cache data and update incrementally to minimize calls.

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Store and Process Follower Data Securely

Secure data handling is critical for compliance:

• Use encrypted databases or secure cloud storage.
• Restrict access via authentication and authorization controls.
• Avoid logging sensitive identifiers in unsecured logs.

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Analyze Audience Demographics and Engagement

Follower metadata (location, language, engagement history) can be used to generate insights:

• Geographical Distribution: Identify top regions.
• Engagement Rates: Likes, comments per follower.
• Growth Trends: Weekly or monthly follower changes.

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Automate Reporting and Insights While Staying Compliant

Automation can streamline analysis:

• Build scripts to fetch new follower data daily.
• Integrate with visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI).
• Email or dashboard reports for marketing teams.

Make sure automation adheres to rate limits and data retention policies.

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Troubleshooting Common Errors

Permission Denied

Occurs when:

• Missing required scopes.
• User account isn't a Business or Creator account.

Expired Token

Tokens expire if not refreshed:

• Renew long-lived tokens every ~60 days.

Invalid User ID

Ensure you're using the numeric Instagram Business Account ID, not username.

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Best Practices for Maintaining API Integration Over Time

• Version Locking: Use a specific Graph API version to prevent breaking changes.
• Monitor Health: Set alerts for failed API calls.
• Update Scopes: Re-request permissions when adding new features.
• Secure Keys: Regularly rotate secrets and access tokens.

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Legal Considerations and Avoiding Prohibited Uses

Instagram prohibits certain types of data usage:

• Selling or sharing follower data with third parties without consent.
• Conducting surveillance or tracking individuals.
• Misrepresenting data usage in privacy policies.

Always review the Platform Policy and respect user privacy rights, including GDPR and CCPA compliance for relevant regions.

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By following the above steps and best practices, you can efficiently use the Instagram API to get a followers list while staying compliant and building robust, secure integrations. Proper planning, automation, and respect for privacy will help you get valuable insights without risking your application's standing with Meta.