This tutorial walks users through building a simple Instagram bot to automate tasks like following, unfollowing, and liking posts. By the end, you'll have a working bot that can perform basic tasks on Instagram.
This guide is perfect for beginners looking to understand how Python automation works with Instagram.
Bots are Python scripts designed to interact with Instagram’s API or simulate human behavior by automating certain actions. Instead of performing repetitive tasks manually, bots can:
Important Note: Automating Instagram can violate Instagram’s terms of service, so use bots responsibly and at your own risk. Instagram has strict measures to detect and block automated behaviors, so limit usage to avoid account bans.
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Let’s dive into writing your first Instagram bot using Instabot, a simple Python library for Instagram automation.
Before writing the script, install Instabot:
pip install instabotWrite a Python script that logs in to your Instagram account and automates basic tasks such as following and liking posts.
from instabot import Bot
# Initialize the bot
bot = Bot()
# Login to your Instagram account
bot.login(username="your_username", password="your_password")
# Follow a specific user
bot.follow("example_user")
# Unfollow the same user
bot.unfollow("example_user")
# Like 5 posts from a specific user
bot.like_user("example_user", amount=5)
Automation becomes even more powerful when you schedule tasks to happen at specific times or intervals. This can help you maintain consistent engagement without having to manually trigger the bot.
Python’s schedule library allows you to schedule your bot's tasks to run at specific times. You can automate actions like liking posts or following accounts on a daily basis.
Install the schedule library:
pip install scheduleHere’s a script that schedules your bot to like 10 posts from your feed at 10:00 AM every day:
import schedule
import time
from instabot import Bot
# Initialize the bot
bot = Bot()
# Login to your Instagram account
bot.login(username="your_username", password="your_password")
# Function to like posts on your timeline
def like_posts():
bot.like_timeline(amount=10)
# Schedule the task
schedule.every().day.at("10:00").do(like_posts)
# Keep the script running to execute scheduled tasks
while True:
schedule.run_pending()
time.sleep(1)
Now that you have written your first Instagram bot using Python, you can expand on these concepts by adding more functionality, such as commenting on posts or engaging with specific hashtags. In the next section, you’ll learn how to enhance your bot with more advanced automation features and strategies for improving its effectiveness.
By building a basic bot, you’ve gained a foundational understanding of how Instagram automation works, and you’re now equipped to further explore more complex tasks and possibilities.
