Instagram Search Reels Extractor (Rich Metadata) ## Overview This actor performs a deep extraction of Instagram Reels metadata through keyword-based search queries, returning structured JSON objects with comprehensive engagement metrics, creator profiles, audio metadata, and technical specifications. The extraction pipeline prioritizes data integrity through timestamp validation, type enforcement, and null-safe field handling. All records include ISO 8601 timestamps and unique identifiers for downstream deduplication and temporal analysis. ## Data Dictionary | Field Name | Data Type | Definition | |------------|-----------|------------| | reel_id | String | Instagram's internal unique identifier for the Reel object | | external_id | String | System-generated external reference ID for cross-platform tracking | | shortcode | String | Instagram's URL-safe alphanumeric shortcode used in public links | | scraped_at | String (ISO 8601) | UTC timestamp indicating when the extraction occurred | | duration_seconds | Float | Total playback duration of the video content in seconds | | music_info.track_name | String | Title of the audio track associated with the Reel | | music_info.artist | String | Artist or creator username credited for the audio | | music_info.duration | String | Formatted audio duration in MM:SS format | | music_info.is_original | Boolean | Indicates whether the audio is original content created by the Reel author | | creator.id | String | Instagram's unique identifier for the content creator account | | creator.username | String | Public-facing username handle of the creator | | creator.is_verified | Boolean | Indicates if the account has Instagram's blue verification badge | | creator.follower_count | Integer | Total number of followers for the creator account at extraction time | | engagement_metrics.play_count | Integer | Total number of video plays recorded by Instagram | | engagement_metrics.like_count | Integer | Cumulative count of likes received on the Reel | | engagement_metrics.comment_count | Integer | Total number of comments posted on the Reel | | engagement_metrics.share_count | Integer | Number of times the Reel has been shared via Instagram's share feature | | engagement_metrics.save_count | Integer | Count of users who saved the Reel to their collections | | content_details.caption | String | User-generated text caption accompanying the Reel, including emojis and hashtags | | content_details.language_code | String (ISO 639-1) | Two-letter language code detected from caption text | | content_details.has_product_tags | Boolean | Indicates presence of shoppable product tags in the Reel | | content_details.sentiment_score | Float | Normalized sentiment analysis score ranging from -1.0 (negative) to 1.0 (positive) | | technical_metadata.width | Integer | Video frame width in pixels | | technical_metadata.height | Integer | Video frame height in pixels | | technical_metadata.video_codec | String | Video compression codec identifier (e.g., h264, h265) | | technical_metadata.aspect_ratio | String | Display aspect ratio formatted as width:height | | is_sponsored | Boolean | Indicates if the Reel contains paid partnership or sponsored content | | location_tag | String/Null | Geographic location tag if added by creator, null if not present | | hashtag_count | Integer | Total number of hashtags included in the caption | | view_eligibility | String | Content visibility status (public, private, restricted) | ## Sample Dataset Below is a sample of the high-fidelity JSON output: json { "reel_id": "987654321098765", "external_id": "IGR_2025121945X8B7C", "shortcode": "Rq7mK9pL2Yx", "scraped_at": "2025-12-19T15:22:31Z", "duration_seconds": 29.4, "music_info": { "track_name": "Original Audio", "artist": "creator_username", "duration": "00:29", "is_original": true }, "creator": { "id": "445566778899", "username": "lifestyle_reels", "is_verified": true, "follower_count": 245800 }, "engagement_metrics": { "play_count": 89234, "like_count": 12456, "comment_count": 342, "share_count": 1203, "save_count": 892 }, "content_details": { "caption": "Quick morning routine 💫 #morningroutine #lifestyle", "language_code": "en", "has_product_tags": true, "sentiment_score": 0.87 }, "technical_metadata": { "width": 1080, "height": 1920, "video_codec": "h264", "aspect_ratio": "9:16" }, "is_sponsored": false, "location_tag": null, "hashtag_count": 2, "view_eligibility": "public" } ## Configuration Parameters To ensure optimal data depth, configure the following: | Parameter | JSON Field Name | Data Type | Required | Description | Example Value | |-----------|----------------|-----------|----------|-------------|---------------| | Search Query | query | String | Yes | Keyword or search term used to filter Instagram Reels results | trending | ## Analytical Use Cases Researchers and analysts can leverage this dataset for multiple quantitative and qualitative investigations: - Viral Content Pattern Analysis: Identify correlation patterns between engagement metrics, audio selection, and posting timestamps to predict viral potential - Creator Performance Benchmarking: Compare follower-to-engagement ratios across verified and non-verified accounts within specific content niches - Audio Trend Mapping: Track the propagation velocity of original audio tracks versus licensed music across creator networks - Sentiment-Engagement Correlation: Perform regression analysis between caption sentiment scores and save/share behaviors - Longitudinal Content Strategy Studies: Time-series analysis of hashtag effectiveness, optimal video duration, and aspect ratio preferences - Product Tag Conversion Research: Measure the relationship between has_product_tags and engagement lift for e-commerce optimization - Network Influence Mapping: Construct creator influence graphs using follower counts and cross-referenced engagement patterns ## Technical Limitations Important Considerations: - Rate Limiting: Instagram's API enforces dynamic rate limits; sustained high-volume extraction may trigger temporary access restrictions (typically 200 requests per hour per IP) - Data Freshness: Engagement metrics represent point-in-time snapshots; real-time metrics may differ from extracted values by 5-15 minutes - Private Account Exclusion: Reels from private accounts are not accessible regardless of search query; only public content is extractable - Sentiment Score Accuracy: The sentiment_score field uses NLP heuristics with approximately 78-82% accuracy for English captions; non-English accuracy varies - Historical Data Retention: Instagram does not provide historical engagement data; only current cumulative metrics are available at extraction time - Null Field Handling: Fields such as location_tag may return null when creators do not add geographic metadata; ensure null-safe parsing in downstream pipelines - Video Codec Variability: The video_codec field reflects Instagram's transcoding decisions; original upload codecs are not preserved - Follower Count Precision: Accounts with >10K followers display rounded counts (e.g., "245.8K"); exact values require separate profile extraction ## Keywords & Tags This specification supports workflows for instagram scraper, instagram data extractor, instagram reels scraper, export instagram followers, instagram lead generation, instagram scraping tool, and instagram search scraping use cases.