---
title: "Look up a public post"
method: POST
path: "/posts/lookup"
tags: ["Posts"]
---

# Look up a public post

`POST /posts/lookup`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://api.socially.run/v1`
- URL: `https://api.socially.run/v1/posts/lookup`
- Auth: HTTP bearer

Read one public Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, LinkedIn or Facebook post by URL. Returns its caption, author id, date, media and public counts when available. X, LinkedIn and Facebook posts are read only through a paid reader, with exact counts, and a deployment with no reader configured answers 503 before it charges. A LinkedIn post's `author.profileUrl` is the person's or the company's own page, and a Facebook post's `likes` counts every reaction. A full Instagram read adds source ids and ordered `frames` with image/video URLs, dimensions, duration and alt text; missing fields are null. YouTube adds video/channel ids, title and description, not a playable stream. Every read says its `detailLevel` (`detailed` from the post's own page or API, `embed` from a thin public card that leaves what it does not show null) and its `confidence`; a cached answer keeps both. CDN URLs can expire: download the files. Answers `found` or `undecided` (refunded), never `notFound`. 1 credit on a miss, 0 on a hit. Cached answers keep the original `extractedAt`.

## Request body

- object
  - `url` string, required: An http(s) URL.
  - `refresh` boolean: Bypass the cache and the snapshot; costs a credit even when fresh.

## Response `200`

Look up a public post

- object
  - `data` unknown, required

## Other responses

- `400`: VALIDATION_ERROR / INVALID_TARGET / SSRF_BLOCKED: the issues, never the values.
- `401`: UNAUTHORIZED / INVALID_TOKEN: the key is missing or wrong.
- `402`: PAYMENT_REQUIRED / PLAN_GATE: clears by upgrading or buying credits, never by waiting.
- `429`: RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED / QUOTA_EXCEEDED: Retry-After says when it clears.
- `default`: Any other failure.

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/socially/apis/socially-run-send-a-profile-link-get-its-public-data-as-json.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/socially/apis/socially-run-send-a-profile-link-get-its-public-data-as-json/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/socially/apis/socially-run-send-a-profile-link-get-its-public-data-as-json/revisions/5a0b24534b90?raw)