📘 Facebook & Instagram API Setup Guide for Stackposts

This guide explains how to configure a Meta (Facebook) App so that Stackposts can connect to Facebook Pages and Instagram Professional accounts for publishing posts and retrieving analytics.

⏱ Estimated Setup Time: 30–50 minutes
🏗 Phase Count: 6 Phases

🏗 Phase 1 — Create the Meta App

Step 1 — Create a Meta Application

Open the Meta Developer Dashboard: https://developers.facebook.com/apps/
Click Create App.
Select: Other → Business.
Click Next.
Enter the required information:
- App Name: Stackposts (Example)
- Contact Email: [email protected]
Click Create App.

Step 2 — Select App Use Cases

Meta will ask which Use Cases your application requires. Select the following:

✅ Manage everything on your Page (Enables Facebook Pages API)
✅ Manage messaging & content on Instagram (Enables Instagram Graph API)
Click Next.

Step 3 — Configure Basic App Settings

Navigate to: App Settings → Basic and fill in the following:

Field	Value
App Domains	`yourdomain.com`
Privacy Policy URL	`https://yourdomain.com/privacy-policy`
Terms of Service URL	`https://yourdomain.com/terms-of-service`
User Data Deletion URL	`https://yourdomain.com/delete-data.html`
App Icon	Upload a 1024 × 1024 px logo
Category	Business and Pages
Support Email	`[email protected]`

📄 Required: Data Deletion Page

Meta requires a User Data Deletion page. Create a file delete-data.html and upload it to your website.

Example template:

HTML

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Data Deletion Request</title>
<style>
body{font-family:sans-serif;background:#f9fafb;text-align:center}
.container{max-width:700px;margin:60px auto;background:#fff;padding:40px;border-radius:16px;box-shadow:0 6px 18px rgba(0,0,0,0.1)}
h1{color:#675dff}
.btn{display:inline-block;padding:12px 24px;background:#675dff;color:#fff;text-decoration:none;border-radius:8px}
</style>
</head>
<body><div class="container">
<h1>Data Deletion Request</h1>
<p>If you wish to request deletion of your data from our system, please contact us.</p>
<a href="mailto:[email protected]" class="btn">Request Data Deletion</a>
<p>Your request will be processed within 7 business days.</p>
</div></body>
</html>

⚠️ Important: Without these fields Meta will display: Currently Ineligible for Submission and you will not be able to submit the app for review.

Step 4 — Connect Business Portfolio

Select your business if available (Example: Your Business Name). If you do not have one yet, select: I don't want to connect a business portfolio yet. Click Next.

🛡 Phase 2 — Verification & Permissions

Step 5 — Complete Access Verification

Open: Review → Verification.
Follow the instructions and submit verification.
⚠️ Important: Access verification can take up to 5 days. Wait until the status becomes: Verified. Only then continue to App Review.

Step 6 — Add Required Permissions

Open: Use Cases → Customize → Permissions and Features. Add the following:

Permission	Purpose
`pages_show_list`	Connect Facebook Pages
`pages_read_engagement`	Retrieve page analytics
`pages_manage_posts`	Publish posts to Facebook Pages
`instagram_basic`	Connect Instagram accounts
`instagram_content_publish`	Publish posts to Instagram
`instagram_manage_insights`	Retrieve Instagram analytics
`business_management`	Manage business assets

Status result: Should display Ready for testing.

⚙ Phase 3 — Configure Stackposts

Step 7 — Copy App Credentials

Open: App Settings → Basic. Copy the App ID and App Secret.

Step 8 — Add Credentials in Stackposts

Open your Stackposts Admin Panel.
Navigate to: Admin → API Integration → Facebook. Paste App ID and App Secret. Click Save Changes.
Navigate to: Admin → API Integration → Instagram. Paste the same credentials. Click Save Changes.

Step 9 — Add Redirect URLs

Open: Facebook Login for Business → Settings. Find Valid OAuth Redirect URIs and add:

https://yourdomain.com/app/facebook/page
https://yourdomain.com/app/facebook/profile
https://yourdomain.com/app/instagram/profile

(Replace [suspicious link removed] with your actual domain).

🧪 Phase 4 — Testing Integration

Step 10 — Connect Social Accounts

Open your Stackposts Dashboard → Channels → Add Channels.
Facebook Page: Click Facebook → + Page. Login and approve permissions.
Instagram Account: Click Instagram → + Profile. Login using Facebook.

⚠️ Requirements: Instagram must be a Professional Account and Connected to a Facebook Page.

Step 11 — Create a Test Post

Open Publishing → Compose. Upload an image and write: "Test post from Stackposts". Click Post Now.

Step 12 — Verify the Post

Open your Facebook Page and Instagram Profile. If the post appears, the integration works!

🧾 Phase 5 — App Review

Step 13 — Test Your Use Cases

Open: Meta Dashboard → Review → Testing. Verify:

Login to platform
Connect Facebook Page / Instagram account
Publish a post

⚠️ Important: Wait 24 hours after testing before submitting for review to allow Meta to detect API calls.

Step 14 — Allowed Usage (Permission Descriptions)

In App Review → Permissions and Features, click Get Started for each and use these details:

instagram_manage_contents

Description: Our platform is a social media management tool that allows users to connect their Instagram Professional accounts and manage their content from a centralized scheduling dashboard. Users can create, upload, and schedule posts.
What to Upload: Screen recording showing login, adding channel, and publishing a post.

instagram_content_publish

Description: This permission is used to publish images or videos created by the user directly to their Instagram account through the Instagram Graph API.
What to Upload: Use the same screen recording.

instagram_basic

Description: Used to retrieve basic information (ID, Username, Profile info) to display the connected account inside the dashboard.
What to Upload: Same screen recording.

pages_read_engagement

Description: Used to retrieve engagement data (Reactions, Comments, Insights) to help users understand post performance in the Analytics section.
What to Upload: Same recording (ensure a Facebook Page is connected).

pages_manage_posts

Description: Allows the application to publish content to Facebook Pages managed by the user.
What to Upload: Recording showing adding a Page and publishing content to it.

pages_show_list

Description: Allows the application to retrieve the list of Facebook Pages managed by the user so they can select which Page to connect.

business_management

Description: Used to access Facebook Business assets associated with the user to retrieve and manage Pages connected to their Business Manager.

public_profile

Description: Used to retrieve basic info (User ID, Name) when logging in to create and manage the user's account within the platform.

📹 Screen Recording Example

Meta requires a 1–2 minute video showing the full workflow.

Facebook Record:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He1DMgk7H1g

Instagram Record:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IltrGwGDcY

📑 Phase 6 — Final Submission

Step 15 — Complete Data Handling

Open: Review → App Review → Data Handling.

Data processors: No
Responsible entity: Your Company Name
Shared with authorities: No

Step 16 — Add Website Platform

Open: App Settings → Basic. Click Add Platform → Website.

URL: https://yourdomain.com

Step 17 — Provide Testing Instructions

Open: App Settings → Basic.

App Location: https://yourdomain.com
Test Account:
- Email: [email protected]
- Password: Review123!

Step 18 — Submit for Review

Open: Review → App Review → Click Submit for Review.

After approval, switch the app from Development Mode to Live Mode.

✅ Summary Requirements & ❌ Common Rejections

✔ Instagram must be a Professional Account connected to a Facebook Page.
✔ Privacy Policy must be publicly accessible on your website.
✔ Screen recording must show the full publishing process.
❌ Rejection: Reviewer cannot login. (Ensure test account works).
❌ Rejection: Instagram is not Professional. (Switch in IG settings).