What is public social data?
Public social data is content and metadata a platform shows to anyone logged out, without requiring you to be the account owner: public profiles, posts, viewable counts, and similar. Social Fetch targets that class only — not DMs, private accounts, login-gated content, or owner-only insights.
What "public" actually means here
The test is whether someone can view it in a logged-out browser — no account, login, or invitation required. A public TikTok profile qualifies; a private Instagram account does not, even though the posts exist.
Social Fetch documents per-platform coverage under /platforms across 21 networks (165 marketplace operations). Coverage varies by platform and route.
What public usually covers
Handles and bios, public follower counts, post captions and engagement metrics, transcripts where available, and public search or discovery — depending on the route.
A TikTok profile lookup returns data.lookupStatus: "found" plus bio, follower count, and recent public videos — the same view a logged-out visitor gets. No authentication as that creator required.
Limits and what falls outside it
Private or restricted accounts return documented data.lookupStatus outcomes — Social Fetch doesn't bypass platform privacy settings. DMs, private insights, ad reporting, and anything requiring the owner's login are out of scope; that's what official OAuth APIs are for.
"Public" also isn't a blanket legal OK for every use case. You're responsible for platform terms, privacy law, and context. Social Fetch returns what a logged-out visitor sees; it doesn't provide legal review.
Vs owner-scoped official APIs
Official kits (Meta Graph API, TikTok's official API, etc.) return data for accounts that authorize your app via OAuth: publishing, private insights, ads, DMs.
Public social data needs no authorization from the profile you're looking up — enrichment and research over pages anyone can already open. Managing your own connected account is the official-API job; looking up public competitors or creators is the public-data job Social Fetch covers.
How this differs from proxy- and login-based scrapers
Some competitors use residential proxies or automated login sessions to reach gated content. Social Fetch doesn't — every lookup is scoped to what a platform serves without authentication.
Common misconceptions
"Public" means what an anonymous visitor sees, not everything the platform's own app might show a logged-in user.
A public follower count doesn't mean historical data is public. Social Fetch returns what's visible now, not a time machine over past profile states.
FAQ
What counts as public social media data?
Anything a logged-out visitor can see: public profiles, posts, captions, metrics, transcripts, and public search. If viewing requires owner or follower login, it's not public.
Can I get private Instagram or TikTok data through Social Fetch?
No. For owner-scoped data, use that platform's official API with the account owner's OAuth authorization.
Is Social Fetch legal to use for scraping public social data?
Social Fetch returns logged-out-visible data without proxies or login automation. You're still responsible for lawful use — platform terms and applicable privacy law for your use case.
What happens if I request data for a private profile?
Routes that support it return data.lookupStatus like private or not_found on HTTP 200. See /glossary/lookup-status.
Does Social Fetch use proxies or fake logins to access gated content?
No. Only what a platform serves to an anonymous, logged-out visitor.
Can I get DMs, private insights, or ad reporting through Social Fetch?
No. That's owner-scoped data for official OAuth APIs. Social Fetch covers the public half.
Where do I browse what's covered per platform?
/platforms for per-network hubs, /docs/api for schemas, /tools for free browser lookups.
How is public social data different from an official platform API?
Official APIs require the account owner to authorize your app and return owner-scoped data. Public data needs no authorization from the profile you're looking up.