Actions7
- Post Actions
- User Actions
Overview
This node allows interaction with Instagram's private API to perform various user-related operations. Specifically, the "Get Following" operation retrieves a list of Instagram users that a specified user is following. This can be useful for social media managers, marketers, or developers who want to analyze or monitor the accounts followed by a particular Instagram user.
Practical examples include:
- Gathering data on influencers' followings to understand their network.
- Monitoring competitor followings for marketing insights.
- Building custom analytics dashboards showing user connections.
Properties
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| User ID | The Instagram user ID whose following list you want to retrieve (e.g., "12345678"). |
| Limit | Number of results to return; controls how many following users are fetched (default 10). |
Output
The output is a JSON array where each item represents a user that the specified Instagram user is following. Each JSON object typically contains user details as returned by the Instagram private API client’s getFollowing method. The exact structure depends on the Instagram API response but generally includes user identifiers, usernames, and profile information.
No binary data output is produced by this operation.
Dependencies
- Requires an Instagram API credential containing a valid username and password for login.
- Uses a private Instagram API client library bundled in the node implementation.
- The node must be configured with these credentials in n8n before execution.
Troubleshooting
Common issues:
- Invalid or expired Instagram credentials will cause login failures.
- Providing an incorrect or empty User ID will result in no data or errors.
- Rate limiting or temporary blocks from Instagram due to frequent requests.
Error messages:
"Instagram operation failed: <message>"indicates a failure during any step, often related to authentication or API limits."Image data is required"error appears only for image posting operations, not relevant here.
Resolutions:
- Verify Instagram credentials are correct and have access.
- Ensure the User ID is valid and corresponds to an existing Instagram user.
- Reduce request frequency or add delays if hitting rate limits.
Links and References
- Instagram Private API Documentation (third-party) — for understanding underlying API calls.
- n8n Documentation — for general guidance on using credentials and nodes.