Hi memoryKPR community, we have some rather unfortunate news to share with you regarding our Instagram file upload integration.
In a surprise announcement, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is set to deprecate the consumer-facing Instagram API on December 4, 2024. Meta made the announcement to developers through an email on September 4th, 2024.
The shutdown of the Instagram Basic Display API will impact how you interact with your Instagram content outside the platform, not just on memoryKPR. But don’t worry, we’ll try to explain it all in this article!
What is an API?
API stands for Application Programming Interface. It’s the behind-the-scenes magic that allows different software systems to communicate with each other. In simpler terms, it’s what enables you to seamlessly import your Instagram photos into memoryKPR. Without this API, that direct connection disappears.
What is the Instagram Basic Display API Deprecation?
The Instagram Basic Display API is an programming interface provided by Meta to communicate with consumer Instagram accounts, and through this connection companies, like memoryKPR, can retrieve basic (public) account information and media uploaded to Instagram.
We use this API in out media uploader to find all the content you’ve uploaded to Instagram so you can easily import it into your memoryKPR story or content library.
However, as we mentioned in the introduction, it is this connection that will be shutdown by Meta on December 4th, 2024.
Instagram Graph API is the future
So we know the Basic Display API, which is used by platforms to communicate with consumer Instagram accounts, is getting shutdown. The good news is the the Instagram Graph API, which is used to communicate with creator and business Instagram accounts, is staying and getting even better.
Meta is introducing a new, simpler way to authenticate with the Instagram Graph API using an Instagram Login. You still need to have a professional Instagram account, but this new authentication method forgoes the requirement for an associated Facebook page. (Note: for memoryKPR Automated Hashtag Content Gathering you still need to use the Facebook Login option for Instagram Graph API authentication)
Stay tuned to our blog to see future developments on this front.
How does this affect me?
Unfortunately, this means we’ll have to remove the “Import from Instagram” option within the memoryKPR file uploader on December 4th. It’s a bummer, we know. But here’s the silver lining: you still have a few months to use it!
The “Import from Instagram” connection in memoryKPR will remain active until December 4th. Take this opportunity to backup all your Instagram content to your memoryKPR account.
Using our new Content Library system, memoryKPR has powerful new digital asset management features allowing you to easily build a story with your content from all around.
Automated Hashtag Gathering Still Works
Don’t panic about automated imports, this change only affects the consumer-side of the Instagram API. Our automated social content importing tool will continue to work as expected. The automated imports uses the Instagram Graph API to connect with professional Instagram accounts.
Going Forward
This situation highlights a growing issue with large social media platforms – it’s a stark reminder of the importance of owning and controlling your digital content. These platforms have become integral parts of our lives, serving as digital records of our experiences.
Ecosystem Lock-in
Social media giants design their platforms to keep you engaged and your content within their walls. It’s great for their business model, but it can limit your freedom to manage your digital assets as you see fit.
Restricted Third-party Access
By limiting API access, platforms like Instagram make it harder for innovative services (like memoryKPR) to help you make the most of your content. This not only stifles innovation but also limits your choices as a user.
To top it off, this isn’t the first API deprecation Meta has made this year. In February, Meta disabled third-party access to the Facebook Groups API resulting in major operational issues for businesses and consumers.
Export Challenges
Ever tried to download all your data from a social media platform? It’s often a cumbersome process, and the exported data may not be in the most user-friendly format. This is completely by design, the harder it is to export your data, the more likely you are to stay on their platform.
Always Changing Policies
As we’re seeing with this API deprecation, platform policies can change rapidly. What’s available today might not be tomorrow, potentially leaving your digital content in limbo. Remember Twitter? The change in leadership forced a new required payment for API usage, resulting in thousands of businesses to end their Twitter integrations as they were no longer feasible.
Data Ownership Ambiguity
When you post on social media, the lines of content ownership can become blurred. While you retain certain rights, the platforms often gain broad licenses to use your content.
That’s why we’re committed to providing you with tools to preserve and manage your content, regardless of its origin. We’re always working to integrate with new platforms to help you use your content wherever you want, check out our recently launched Canva application to supercharge your digital content design workflow!
This Instagram API change, while challenging, presents an opportunity. It’s a chance to reassess how we manage our digital content, to take proactive steps in preserving our assets, and to ensure that our digital footprints are truly under our control.
As we navigate this change together, remember: your stories, your photos, your memories – they’re more than just data points on a social media platform. Let’s make sure you have the tools to weave that content into stories as you see fit, today and in the future.
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