MCL 6.0 URLs

As part of Meta's ongoing efforts to improve the researcher experience, Meta Content Library (MCL) API now uses Meta's REST API, and is now specified with OpenAPI. As part of these improvements, the URLs for querying Meta Content Library API have also been updated and streamlined.

Synchronous vs. asynchronous queries in MCL 6.0

Meta now strongly recommends that you use synchronous queries for exploration and validation only, and instead use asynchronous queries to return larger data sets for analysis and research. Synchronous queries will only return the top 1000 results.

Transforming URLs for MCL 6.0

Transformation rules

To transform the URLs in requests in your notebooks, you can refer to the tables in the sections that follow URL changes for MCL 6.0, or apply the following rules:

The URL segment platform_item becomes /platform/item. For example, GET /search/facebook_posts becomes GET /facebook/posts/preview.
GET requests to URLs for sync search endpoints for an item type, such as GET /search/facebook_posts become GET requests to the platform name, followed by the item type, followed by preview, such as GET /facebook/posts/preview.
GET requests that create a job on the server, such as GET /async_search/facebook_posts, become POST requests to the updated URL, such as POST /facebook/posts/job.
The estimate parameter in a request becomes the terminal estimate segment of the URL. For example, GET /search/facebook_posts?estimate=1 becomes GET /facebook/posts/estimate.
GET requests for URLs to retrieve a specific item type on a platform, such as GET /{facebook_post_id}, are now the platform name, followed by the item type, followed by the id, such as GET /facebook/posts/{id}.
Synchronous and asynchronous GET requests for URLS that return summaries, such as GET /search/facebook_posts?estimate=1 and GET /async_search/facebook_posts?estimate=1, are now the platform name, followed by the item type, followed by "estimate," such as GET /facebook/posts/estimate.

migrate_path helper method

You can use the migrate_path method to get the updated MCL 6.0 URL and HTTP verb by passing it your URL and parameters. For example, if you currently call get() with the arguments path="async_search/facebook_posts" and params={"q": "cybercrime", "since": "2025-10-10"}, you can pass those same arguments to migrate_path to see the new path and method, as shown in the following examples.

library(reticulate)
client <- import("metacontentlibraryapi")$MetaContentLibraryAPIClient

response <- client$migrate_path(
        path="async_search/facebook_posts",
        params = list("q"="cybercrime", "since"="2025-10-10")
)
jsonlite::fromJSON(response$text, flatten=TRUE)

from metacontentlibraryapi import MetaContentLibraryAPIClient as client

tresponse = client.migrate_path(
    path="async_search/facebook_posts",
    params={"q": "cybercrime", "since": "2025-10-10"}
)
display(response.json())

The above code will display {'path': 'facebook/posts/job', 'method': 'POST'}

In your existing code, you can then:

Replace "async_search/facebook_posts" with "facebook/posts/job"
Replace get with post

OpenAPI specification

Starting with API version v6.0, an OpenAPI model is available to provide a standardized specification of all API endpoints and their capabilities. This model enables users to programmatically discover and interact with the API using modern tools and libraries that support the OpenAPI standard. This documentation update is intended to improve integration, automation, and compatibility for all API consumers.

You can use the following code to retrieve the complete specification:

library(reticulate)
client <- import("metacontentlibraryapi")$MetaContentLibraryAPIClient

client$openapi_spec()

from metacontentlibraryapi import (
    MetaContentLibraryAPIClient as client,
)

spec = client.openapi_spec()
display(spec)

URL change tables for MCL 6.0

The following sections contain tables of URL changes for MCL 6.0. You can use these tables to locate your existing MCL 5.0 URLs and their 6.0 equivalents.

In this section:

Facebook URL changes
Instagram URL changes
WhatsApp URLs
Other URL changes

Facebook URL changes

Facebook posts

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronous search	`GET /search/facebook_posts`	`GET /facebook/posts/preview`
ID-based retrieval	`GET /{facebook_post_id}`	`GET /facebook/posts/{id}`
Synchronous shared search	`GET /search/facebook_posts/{alias_id}`	`GET /facebook/posts/preview/{alias_id}`
Synchronous and asynchronous estimates	`GET /search/facebook_posts?estimate=1` & `GET /async_search/facebook_posts?estimate=1`	`GET /facebook/posts/estimate`
Asynchronous search	`GET /async_search/facebook_posts`	`POST /facebook/posts/job`
Asynchronous shared searc	`GET /async_search/facebook_posts/{alias_id}`	`POST /facebook/posts/job/{alias_id}`
Synchronous and asynchronous shared estimates	`GET /search/facebook_posts/{alias_id}?estimate=1` & `GET /async_search/facebook_posts/{alias_id}?estimate=1`	`GET /facebook/posts/estimate/{alias_id}`

Facebook profiles

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronous search	`GET /search/facebook_profiles`	`GET /facebook/profiles/preview`
ID-based retrieval	`GET /{facebook_profile_id`	`GET /facebook/profiles/{id}`
Asynchronous search	`GET /async_search/facebook_profiles`	`POST /facebook/profiles/job`
Synchronous and asynchronous estimates	`GET /search/facebook_profiles?estimate=1` & `GET /async_search/facebook_profiles?estimate=1`	`GET /facebook/profiles/estimate`

Facebook groups

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronous search	`GET /search/facebook_groups`	`GET /facebook/groups/preview`
ID-based retrieval	`GET /{facebook_group_id}`	`GET /facebook/groups/{id}`
Asynchronous search	`GET /async_search/facebook_groups`	`POST /facebook/groups/job`
Synchronous and asynchronous estimates	`GET /search/facebook_groups?estimate=1` & `GET /async_search/facebook_groups?estimate=1`	`GET /facebook/groups/estimate`

Facebook pages

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronous search	`GET /search/facebook_pages`	`GET /facebook/pages/preview`
ID-based retrieval	`GET /{facebook_page_id}`	`GET /facebook/pages/{id}`
Asynchronous search	`GET /async_search/facebook_pages`	`POST /facebook/pages/job`
Synchronous and asynchronous estimates	`GET /search/facebook_groups?estimate=1` & `GET /async_search/facebook_groups?estimate=1`	`GET /facebook/groups/estimate`

Facebook events

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronous search	`GET /search/facebook_events`	`GET /facebook/events/preview`
ID-based retrieval	`GET /{facebook_event_id}`	`GET /facebook/events/{id}`
Asynchronous search	`GET /async_search/facebook_events`	`POST /facebook/events/job`
Synchronous and asynchronous estimates	`GET /async_search/facebook_events?estimate=1`	`GET /facebook/events/estimate`

Facebook Marketplace listings

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronous search	`GET /search/facebook_marketplace_listings`	`GET /facebook/marketplace-listings/preview`
ID-based retrieval	`GET /{facebook_marketplace_listings_id}`	`GET /facebook/marketplace-listings/{id}`
Synchronous shared search	`GET /search/facebook_marketplace_listings/{alias_id}`	`GET /facebook/marketplace-listings/preview/{alias_id}`
Asynchronous search	`GET /async_search/facebook_marketplace_listings`	`POST /facebook/marketplace-listings/job`
Synchronous and asynchronous estimates	`GET /search/facebook_marketplace_listings?estimate=1` & `GET /async_search/facebook_marketplace_listings?estimate=1`	`GET /facebook/marketplace-listings/estimate`
Asynchronous shared search	`GET /async_search/facebook_marketplace_listings/{alias_id}`	`POST /facebook/marketplace-listings/job/{alias_id}`
Shared search estimate (both synchronous and asynchronous search)	`GET /async_search/facebook_marketplace_listings/{alias_id}?estimate=1`	`GET /facebook/marketplace-listings/estimate/{alias_id}`

Facebook comments

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronous fetch for single pos	`GET /{facebook_post_id}/comments`	`GET /facebook/posts/{id}/comments/preview`
Synchronous fetch for single comment	`GET /{facebook_comment_id}/comments`	`/facebook/comments/{id}/replies/preview`
ID-based retrieval	`GET /{facebook_comment_id}`	`GET /facebook/comments/{id}`
Asynchronous fetch for single post	`GET /{facebook_post_id}/async_comments`	Not supported: Bulk comments endpoint can be used instead, accepting multiple ids
Synchronous and asynchronous estimates	`GET /{facebook_post_id}/comments?estimate=1` & `GET /{facebook_post_id}/async_comments?estimate=1`	Not supported: Bulk comments endpoint can be used instead, accepting multiple ids
Asynchronous fetch for single comment	`GET /{facebook_comment_id}/async_comments`	Not supported: Bulk comments endpoint can be used instead, accepting multiple ids
Estimate for single comment (synchronous and asynchronous	`GET /{facebook_comment_id}/async_comments?estimate=1` & `GET /{facebook_comment_id}/comments?estimate=1`	Not supported: Bulk comments endpoint can be used instead, accepting multiple ids

Facebook fundraisers

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronous search	`GET /search/facebook_fundraisers`	`GET /facebook/fundraisers/preview`
ID-based retrieval	`GET /{facebook_fundraiser_id}`	`GET /facebook/fundraisers/{id}`
Shared search	`GET /search/facebook_fundraisers/{alias_id}`	`GET /facebook/fundraisers/preview/{alias_id}`
Synchronous and asynchronous estimates	`GET /search/facebook_fundraisers?estimate=1` & `GET /async_search/facebook_fundraisers?estimate=1`	`GET /facebook/fundraisers/estimate`
Asynchronous search	`GET /async_search/facebook_fundraisers`	`POST /facebook/fundraisers/job`
Asynchronous shared search	`GET /async_search/facebook_fundraisers/{alias_id}`	`POST /facebook/fundraisers/job/{alias_id}`
Shared search estimate (synchronous and asynchronous)	`GET /search/facebook_fundraisers/{alias_id}?estimate=1` & `GET /async_search/facebook_fundraisers/{alias_id}?estimate=1`	`GET /facebook/fundraisers/estimate/{alias_id}`

Facebook nonprofit

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
ID Based retrieval	`GET {facebook_non_profit_id}`	`GET facebook/fundraiser-nonprofits/{facebook_non_profit_id}`

Facebook donations

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Fundraiser donations	`GET /{facebook_fundraise_id}/donations`	`GET /facebook/fundraisers/{id}/donations/preview`
ID-based retrieval	`GET /{facebook_donations_id}`	`GET /facebook/fundraisers-donations/{id}`
Estimate the number of donations	`GET /{facebook_fundraise_id}/donations?estimate=1`	`Not supported`

Facebook channels

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronous search	NA	`GET /facebook/channels/preview`
ID-based retrieval	NA	`GET /facebook/channels/{id}`
Shared search	NA	`GET /facebook/channels/preview/{alias_id}`
Asynchronous search	NA	`POST /facebook/channels/job`
Synchronous and asynchronous estimates	NA	`GET /facebook/channels/estimate`
Asynchronous shared search	NA	`POST /facebook/channels/job/{alias_id}`
Synchronously or asynchronously estimate shared search	NA	`GET /facebook/channels/estimate/{alias_id}`

Facebook channel messages

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronously fetch messages from a single channel	NA	`GET /facebook/channels/{facebook_channel_id}/messages/preview`
ID-based retrieval	NA	`GET /facebook/channel-messages/{facebook_channel_message_id}`
Estimate for single channel messages	NA	Not supported: Bulk messages endpoint can be used instead, accepting multiple ids.
Asynchronous fetch for multiple channels	NA	`POST /facebook/channel-messages/job?channel_ids=...`
Asynchronous estimate for multiple channels	NA	`GET /facebook/channel-messages/estimate?channel_ids=...`

Facebook bulk comments

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Asynchronous fetch of comments for multiple posts/comments	`GET /async_search/facebook_comments?parent_ids=...`	`POST /facebook/comments/job?parent_ids=...`
Asynchronous estimate of comments for multiple posts/comments	`GET /async_search/facebook_comments?parent_ids=...&estimate=1`	`GET /facebook/comments/estimate?parent_ids=...`

Instagram

Instagram posts

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronous search	`GET /search/instagram_posts`	`GET /instagram/posts/preview`
ID-based retrieval	`GET /{instagram_post_id}`	`GET /instagram/posts/{id}`
Shared search	`GET /search/instagram_posts/{alias_id}`	`GET /instagram/posts/preview/{alias_id}`
Asynchronous search	`GET /async_search/instagram_posts`	`POST /instagram/posts/job`
Synchronous and asynchronous estimates	`GET /search/instagram_posts?estimate=1` & `GET /async_search/instagram_posts?estimate=1`	`GET /instagram/posts/estimate`
Asynchronous shared search	`GET /async_search/instagram_posts/{alias_id}`	`POST /instagram/posts/job/{alias_id}`
Synchronously or asynchronously estimate shared search	`GET /search/instagram_posts/{alias_id}?estimate=1` & `GET /async_search/instagram_posts/{alias_id}?estimate=1`	`GET /instagram/posts/estimate/{alias_id}`

Instagram fundraisers

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronous search	`GET /search/instagram_fundraisers`	`GET /instagram/fundraisers/preview`
ID-based retrieval	`GET /{instagram_fundraiser_id}`	`GET /instagram/fundraisers/{id}`
Shared search	`GET /search/instagram_fundraisers/{alias_id}`	`GET /instagram/fundraisers/preview/{alias_id}`
Asynchronous search	`GET /async_search/instagram_fundraisers`	`POST /instagram/fundraisers/job`
Synchronous and asynchronous estimates	`GET /search/instagram_fundraisers?estimate=1` & `GET /async_search/instagram_fundraisers?estimate=1`	`GET /instagram/fundraisers/estimate`
Asynchronous shared search	`GET /async_search/instagram_fundraisers/{alias_id}`	`POST /instagram/fundraisers/job/{alias_id}`
Synchronously or asynchronously estimate shared search	`GET /search/instagram_fundraisers/{alias_id}?estimate=1` & `GET /async_search/instagram_fundraisers/{alias_id}?estimate=1`	`GET /instagram/fundraisers/estimate/{alias_id}`

Instagram channels

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronous search	`GET /search/instagram_channels`	`GET /instagram/channels/preview`
ID-based retrieval	`GET /{instagram_channel_id}`	`GET /instagram/channels/{id}`
Shared search	`GET /search/instagram_channels/{alias_id}`	`GET /instagram/channels/preview/{alias_id}`
Asynchronous search	`GET /async_search/instagram_channels`	`POST /instagram/channels/job`
Synchronous and asynchronous estimates	`GET /search/instagram_channels?estimate=1` & `GET /async_search/instagram_channels?estimate=1`	`GET /instagram/channels/estimate`
Asynchronous shared search	`GET /async_search/instagram_channels/{alias_id}`	`POST /instagram/channels/job/{alias_id}`
Synchronously or asynchronously estimate shared search	`GET /search/instagram_channels/{alias_id}?estimate=1` & `GET /async_search/instagram_channels/{alias_id}?estimate=1`	`GET /instagram/channels/estimate/{alias_id}`

Instagram channel messages

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronously fetch messages from a single channel	`GET {instagram_channel_id}/messages`	`GET /instagram/channels/{instagram_channel_id}/messages/preview`
ID-based retrieval	`GET {instagram_channel_message_id}`	`GET /instagram/channel-messages/{instagram_channel_message_id}`
Estimate for single channel messages	`GET {instagram_channel_id}/messages?estimate=1`	Not supported: Bulk messages endpoint can be used instead, accepting multiple ids.
Asynchronous fetch for multiple channels	`GET /async_search/instagram_channel_messages?channel_ids=...`	`POST /instagram/channel-messages/job?channel_ids=...`
Asynchronous estimate for multiple channels	`GET /async_search/instagram_channel_messages?channel_ids=...&estimate=1`	`GET /instagram/channel-messages/estimate?channel_ids=...`

Channel message comments

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronously fetch comments from a single channel message	`GET /{channel_message_id}/comments`	`GET /instagram/channel-messages/{channel_message_id}/comments/preview`
ID-based retrieval	`GET /{channel_message_comment_id}`	`GET /instagram/comments/{channel_message_comment_id}`

Accounts

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronous search	`GET /search/instagram_accounts`	`GET /instagram/accounts/preview`
ID-based retrieval	`GET /{instagram_account_id}`	`GET /instagram/accounts/{id}`
Asynchronous search	`GET /async_search/instagram_accounts`	`POST /instagram/accounts/job`
Synchronous and asynchronous estimates	`GET /search/instagram_accounts?estimate=1` & `GET /async_search/instagram_accounts?estimate=1`	`GET /instagram/accounts/estimate`

Comments

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronous fetch for single post	`GET /{instagram_post_id}/comments`	`GET /instagram/posts/{id}/comments/preview`
Synchronous fetch for single comment	`GET /{instagram_comment_id}/comments`	`GET /instagram/comments/{id}/replies/preview`
ID-based retrieval	`GET /{instagram_comment_id}`	`GET /instagram/comments/{id}`
Asynchronous fetch for single post	`GET /{instagram_post_id}/async_comments`	Not supported: Bulk comments endpoint can be used instead, accepting multiple ids.
Synchronous and asynchronous estimates for single post	`GET /{instagram_post_id}/comments?estimate=1` & `GET /{instagram_post_id}/async_comments?estimate=1`	Not supported: Bulk comments endpoint can be used instead, accepting multiple ids.
Asynchronous fetch for single comment	`GET /{instagram_comment_id}/async_comments`	Not supported: Bulk comments endpoint can be used instead, accepting multiple ids.
Synchronous and asynchronous estimate for single comment	`GET /{instagram_comment_id}/comments?estimate=1` & `GET /{instagram_comment_id}/async_comments?estimate=1`	Not supported: Bulk comments endpoint can be used instead, accepting multiple ids.

Bulk comments

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Asynchronously fetch comments for multiple posts/comments/channel-messages	`GET /async_search/instagram_comments?parent_ids=...`	`POST /instagram/comments/job?parent_ids=...`
Asynchronously estimate comments for multiple posts/comments/channel-messages	`GET /async_search/instagram_comments?parent_ids=...&estimate=1`	`GET /instagram/comments/estimate?parent_ids=...`

Channels

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronous search	NA	`GET /whatsapp/channels/preview`
ID-based retrieval	NA	`GET /whatsapp/channels/{mcl_id}`
Shared search	NA	`GET /whatsapp/channels/preview/{alias_id}`
Asynchronous search	NA	`POST /whatsapp/channels/job`
Synchronous and asynchronous estimates	NA	`GET /whatsapp/channels/estimate`
Asynchronous shared search	NA	`POST /whatsapp/channels/job/{alias_id}`
Synchronously or asynchronously estimate shared search	NA	`GET /whatsapp/channels/estimate/{alias_id}`

Channel updates

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Synchronously fetch updates from a single channel	NA	`GET /whatsapp/channels/{whatsapp_channel_id}/updates/preview`
ID-based retrieval	NA	`GET /whatsapp/channel-updates/{whatsapp_channel_update_id}`
Asynchronous fetch for multiple channels	NA	`POST /whatsapp/channel-updates/job?channel_ids=...`
Estimate for multiple channels	NA	`GET /whatsapp/channel-updates/estimate?channel_ids=...`

Other URL changes

Lists

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Fetch a single producer lists	`GET /lists/producers/{alias_id}`	`GET /lists/producers/{alias_id}`
Fetch all your producer lists	NA	`GET /lists/producers`
Fetch information for a single shared search	`GET /collections/shared_search/{alias_id}`	`GET /lists/shared-searches/{alias_id}`

Budget

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Fetch budgets	`GET /query_budget`	`GET /budgets`

IDs

Description	MCL 5.0 path	MCL 6.0 path
Fetch type of an ID	NA	`GET /ids/{id}`