Summary
Wati provides tools that let you manage Instagram posts and comments using an AI assistant. You can list posts and reels, view post and comment details, check reply permissions, and send public or private replies to Instagram comments.
This guide explains the available Instagram tools, how they work together, and the important rules to follow when replying to comments.
Instructions
Use the table below to quickly review the Instagram capabilities available in Wati:
Capability | What you can do |
Instagram posts and reels | List feed posts and reels and get the post identifier required for other actions. |
Post details | View a post's caption, media type, permalink, comment count, and like count. |
Unread comments | Check the number of unread comments on a specific post. |
Comments | View comments and 1 level of replies, including the commenter's identifier and username. |
Reply permissions | Check whether the connected Instagram account has the permissions required to reply. |
Public replies | Post a public reply to an Instagram comment. |
Private replies | Send a private message to someone who commented on an Instagram post. |
Before you start
Before using the Instagram reply tools, make sure:
An Instagram channel is connected to your Wati account.
The connected Instagram account has the required permissions to reply to comments.
You can use
wati_instagram_check_permissionsto confirm that the required permissions are available.
Important: Always check the Instagram account permissions before attempting a reply. A reply attempt without the required permissions will fail.
Manage Instagram posts and comments
1. List Instagram posts and reels
Use wati_instagram_list_posts to view the account's feed posts and reels.
You can filter the results by:
All posts and reels
Feed posts only
Reels only
Each result includes the number of unread comments.
The post identifier returned by wati_instagram_list_posts is required by the other post-related tools.
2. View post details
Use wati_instagram_get_post to view details for a specific Instagram post.
You can retrieve:
Caption
Media type
Permalink
Comment count
Like count
3. Check unread comments
Use wati_instagram_get_post_unread_count to check the number of unread comments on a specific Instagram post.
4. List comments on a post
Use wati_instagram_list_comments to view the comments on an Instagram post, including 1 level of replies.
The response provides the commenter's identifier and username. These details are required by the tools that send public and private replies.
5. Check Instagram reply permissions
Use wati_instagram_check_permissions to confirm whether the connected Instagram account has the permissions required to reply to comments.
The tool also identifies any permissions that are missing.
6. Reply to a comment publicly
Use wati_instagram_reply_comment to post a public reply to an Instagram comment.
Important: Public replies are visible publicly and are permanent. They cannot be unsent.
7. Send a private reply
Use wati_instagram_send_private_reply to send a private message to someone who commented on an Instagram post.
Important: You can send only 1 private reply per comment, and it must be sent within 7 days of the comment. This rule is set and enforced by Meta, not Wati.
This private reply allowance is permanent. If you use the allowance for a test message, you cannot send another private reply for that comment.
A private reply may appear in the recipient's message requests instead of their main inbox.
Important notes
Post and reel links
Do not paste an Instagram post or reel link directly into the tools.
Instead, let the agent use wati_instagram_list_posts to list the available posts and select the required post from the results. Post and reel links do not contain the post identifier required by the tools.
A story link can be used instead of a post link.
Private reply limits
A private reply can be sent only once for each comment and only within 7 days of the comment. Once the private reply is used, the allowance cannot be used again for that comment.
Public replies
Public replies are visible to anyone who can view the comment. Once posted, a public reply cannot be unsent.