---
title: "feat: v2.8 Release — Instagram Reels + TikTok ScrapeCreators Migration"
type: enhancement
status: pending
date: 2026-03-04
---

# feat: v2.8 Release — Instagram Reels + TikTok ScrapeCreators Migration

## Summary

Ship everything from the last sprint as one combined GitHub release: TikTok's migration from Apify to ScrapeCreators (already committed) + Instagram Reels as the 8th source (uncommitted) + SKILL.md URL regression fixes. Version bump to v2.8.

## What's Shipping

### 1. Instagram Reels — 8th source (NEW)
- Search Instagram Reels by keyword via ScrapeCreators `/v1/instagram/reels/search`
- Spoken-word transcript extraction via `/v2/instagram/media/transcript`
- Full pipeline: search → normalize → score → dedupe → cross-link → render
- Shares `SCRAPECREATORS_API_KEY` with TikTok (no new API key needed)
- ~7 credits per topic at default depth

### 2. TikTok — Apify → ScrapeCreators migration (ALREADY COMMITTED)
- Replaced Apify dependency with ScrapeCreators API
- Same functionality, different backend
- No more `APIFY_API_TOKEN` — uses `SCRAPECREATORS_API_KEY`

### 3. SKILL.md quality fixes
- Instagram added to stats template, citation priority, data sections, footer
- URL regression fix: explicit URL-to-name extraction rules, stronger anti-Sources instruction
- Security section updated: Apify → ScrapeCreators

## Release Checklist

### Pre-commit: Update docs

- [ ] **README.md** — Update for v2.8:
  - [ ] Change title from "v2.7" to "v2.8"
  - [ ] Add "New in v2.8" banner: Instagram Reels + ScrapeCreators migration
  - [ ] Update installation section: `APIFY_API_TOKEN` → `SCRAPECREATORS_API_KEY`
  - [ ] Add Instagram to the "How it works" flow description (line 132)
  - [ ] Update TikTok section: replace Apify references with ScrapeCreators
  - [ ] Add Instagram section (after TikTok section, ~line 963)
  - [ ] Update API endpoints table: `api.apify.com` → `api.scrapecreators.com`, add Instagram endpoints
  - [ ] Update closing tagline to include Instagram
  - [ ] Remove "The shared Apify client wrapper is designed for future Facebook and Instagram sources" (line 963) — Instagram is here now

- [ ] **CHANGELOG.md** — Add v2.8.0 entry:
  ```
  ## [2.8.0] - 2026-03-04

  ### Highlights

  Instagram Reels as the 8th signal source, TikTok migrated from Apify to ScrapeCreators API, and SKILL.md quality improvements.

  ### Added

  - Instagram Reels as 8th research source via ScrapeCreators API — keyword search, engagement metrics (views, likes, comments), spoken-word transcript extraction
  - Instagram items in SKILL.md stats template, citation priority, and output footer
  - URL-to-name extraction examples in SKILL.md for cleaner web source display

  ### Changed

  - TikTok backend migrated from Apify to ScrapeCreators API (same key covers TikTok + Instagram)
  - `APIFY_API_TOKEN` replaced by `SCRAPECREATORS_API_KEY` in config
  - SKILL.md version bumped to v2.8
  - WebSearch citation instruction strengthened to prevent trailing Sources: blocks

  ### Fixed

  - Web stats line showing full URLs instead of plain domain names (regression from v2.7)
  - Trailing "Sources:" block appearing after invitation (WebSearch tool mandate conflict)
  - Instagram/TikTok not running in web-only mode when `--search=instagram` used without Reddit/X
  ```

- [ ] **SKILL.md** frontmatter — Bump version from "2.7" to "2.8"

- [ ] **SKILL.md** description — Add Instagram to the description field

### Commit & tag

- [ ] Stage all changes: modified files + 4 new files (`scripts/lib/instagram.py`, 3 plan docs)
- [ ] Commit with message:
  ```
  feat: v2.8 — Instagram Reels source + TikTok ScrapeCreators migration

  - Add Instagram Reels as 8th research source via ScrapeCreators API
  - Migrate TikTok from Apify to ScrapeCreators (same API key)
  - Add SCRAPECREATORS_API_KEY config (replaces APIFY_API_TOKEN)
  - Fix web stats URL regression and trailing Sources: block
  - Fix Instagram/TikTok not running in --search=instagram web-only path
  - Update SKILL.md with Instagram stats, citations, URL formatting rules
  ```
- [ ] Create tag: `git tag -a v2.8.0 -m "v2.8.0: Instagram Reels + ScrapeCreators"`
- [ ] Push: `git push origin main --tags`

### Post-push: GitHub release

- [ ] Create GitHub release via `gh release create v2.8.0`:
  ```
  ## What's New in v2.8

  **Instagram Reels** is now the 8th signal source. Search any topic and get trending Instagram Reels with views, likes, and spoken-word transcripts — scored and ranked alongside Reddit, X, YouTube, TikTok, HN, Polymarket, and the web.

  **TikTok migrated to ScrapeCreators API.** Same functionality, new backend. Replace `APIFY_API_TOKEN` with `SCRAPECREATORS_API_KEY` in your config. One key now covers both TikTok and Instagram.

  ### Setup

  Sign up at [scrapecreators.com](https://scrapecreators.com) (100 free credits, then PAYG) and add your key:

  ```bash
  echo 'SCRAPECREATORS_API_KEY=your_key' >> ~/.config/last30days/.env
  ```

  ### Breaking Change

  - `APIFY_API_TOKEN` is no longer used. Replace with `SCRAPECREATORS_API_KEY`.

  ### Bug Fixes

  - Fixed web source URLs leaking into stats display
  - Fixed Instagram/TikTok not running when used with `--search=` flag
  ```

### Post-release: Sync

- [ ] Run `bash scripts/sync.sh` to deploy to all 4 skill destinations
- [ ] Verify Instagram works in a fresh `/last30days` session

## Files Modified (this release)

| File | Status | Description |
|------|--------|-------------|
| `scripts/lib/instagram.py` | NEW | Instagram search + transcript via ScrapeCreators |
| `scripts/lib/schema.py` | MODIFIED | InstagramItem dataclass, Report.instagram field |
| `scripts/lib/normalize.py` | MODIFIED | normalize_instagram_items() |
| `scripts/lib/score.py` | MODIFIED | score_instagram_items(), engagement formula |
| `scripts/lib/dedupe.py` | MODIFIED | dedupe_instagram(), cross-source linking |
| `scripts/lib/render.py` | MODIFIED | Instagram render section, stats |
| `scripts/lib/env.py` | MODIFIED | is_instagram_available(), get_instagram_token() |
| `scripts/lib/ui.py` | MODIFIED | Instagram spinner messages |
| `scripts/last30days.py` | MODIFIED | Instagram in orchestrator pipeline |
| `scripts/watchlist.py` | MODIFIED | Instagram findings extraction |
| `SKILL.md` | MODIFIED | Instagram in stats/citations/footer, URL fixes |
| `README.md` | TO UPDATE | Instagram section, ScrapeCreators migration |
| `CHANGELOG.md` | TO UPDATE | v2.8.0 entry |
| `docs/plans/*.md` | NEW (3) | Plan documents for this work |