Search Instagram posts by hashtag/tag — $0.06 per request, no API keys needed.
What it does
This endpoint searches Instagram posts by tag (hashtag) via StableSocial's unified social media data API. It is one of 36 endpoints covering TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Reddit. You POST a JSON body with a `tag` parameter (without the # symbol) and receive a 202 response containing a signed JWT token. You then poll a separate free endpoint (`GET /api/jobs?token=...`) with SIWX wallet authentication to retrieve results when ready (typically 5–60 seconds).
The endpoint uses an async two-step flow: Step 1 is a paid POST that triggers data collection and returns a job token; Step 2 is free polling with wallet auth. Payment settles only on successful 2xx responses — if the trigger fails (bad params, entity not found), you are not charged. Tokens expire after 30 minutes. Pagination is supported via a `cursor` field in the response's `page_info`; each subsequent page requires a new paid POST.
Pricing is a flat $0.06 USD per request. Payment is accepted via USDC on Base, Solana, or Tempo (pathUSD). No API keys, signups, or subscriptions are required — the payment header serves as authentication. The endpoint supports both x402 and MPP (Tempo method, charge intent) payment protocols.
Capabilities
Use cases
- —Monitor brand mentions on Instagram by searching specific hashtags
- —Research trending topics by pulling posts tagged with specific terms
- —Aggregate user-generated content around a campaign hashtag
- —Feed Instagram tag data into an AI agent's social intelligence pipeline
- —Track competitor hashtag performance over time
Fit
Best for
- —AI agents needing on-demand Instagram hashtag data without managing credentials
- —Researchers who want pay-per-use social data without monthly subscriptions
- —Developers building social listening tools across multiple platforms
Not for
- —High-frequency real-time streaming of Instagram data (async polling adds latency)
- —Users who need official Instagram Graph API features like posting or managing accounts
- —Bulk historical archive retrieval where per-request costs would accumulate significantly
Quick start
# Step 1: Trigger search (paid, $0.06)
curl -X POST https://stablesocial.dev/api/instagram/search-tags \
-H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
-H 'X-Payment: <mpp-or-x402-payment-header>' \
-d '{"tag": "streetphotography", "max_page_size": 20}'
# → 202 {"token": "eyJ..."}
# Step 2: Poll for results (free, SIWX auth required)
curl https://stablesocial.dev/api/jobs?token=eyJ... \
-H 'SIGN-IN-WITH-X: <siwx-auth>'Example
Request
{
"tag": "streetphotography",
"max_page_size": 20
}Response
{
"token": "eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9..."
}Endpoint
Quality
Full OpenAPI schema with clear request parameters, documented async flow, and explicit pricing. The endpoint returned 405 on HEAD/GET probes, which is expected since it only accepts POST. No response schema or example response data is documented, and the /docs page returns 404, so the actual shape of returned Instagram tag data is unknown.
Warnings
- —Probe returned 405 on HEAD and GET — endpoint only accepts POST, which is consistent with the OpenAPI spec; it is likely live but could not be confirmed with a 402 challenge.
- —No response schema is documented — the shape of returned Instagram tag search data is unknown.
- —The /docs page returns 404; all documentation comes from the OpenAPI spec's x-guidance field and the landing page.
- —Data is scraped from Instagram on demand; availability depends on Instagram's own access controls and may be subject to platform policy changes.
Citations
- —Each endpoint costs $0.06 per request in USDC on Base, Solana, or Tempohttps://stablesocial.dev
- —Async two-step flow: POST to trigger (paid), then poll GET /api/jobs with SIWX wallet auth (free)https://stablesocial.dev
- —Tokens expire after 30 minutes; jobs typically finish in 5–60 secondshttps://stablesocial.dev
- —The instagram/search-tags endpoint accepts a required 'tag' parameter (string, without #) plus optional max_page_size and cursorhttps://stablesocial.dev/openapi.json
- —Payment only settles on 2xx responses; failed triggers are not chargedhttps://stablesocial.dev
- —36 endpoints across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Reddithttps://stablesocial.dev