How to Get Your Social Media Data

We need your Facebook/Instagram or Reddit data archives to check for potentially problematic posts. Follow the guides below to request and download your data.

📘 Facebook

Time required: 10-60 minutes (typically much faster)

File size: 50-200MB (much smaller than full export)

📺 Watch Video Guide Go to Facebook Settings →
Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Request Your Data

  1. Go to Facebook Settings → Privacy Center → Download Your Information
  2. Click "Create Export"
  3. Select Facebook profile
  4. Click "Export to Device"

Step 2: Choose Date Range

Select 5 years (or your preferred date range)

Step 3: Format Settings

  • Format: JSON (VITAL!!!)
  • Media Quality: Low (faster download, smaller file size)

⚠️ Step 4: IMPORTANT - Select Only These Categories

✅ INCLUDE (Check these boxes ONLY):

  • Posts
  • Comments and reactions
  • Groups
  • Stories
  • Messages (if you want us to review them - this is OPT IN. By default, we only review what can be publicly seen)

💡 Tip: Scroll through the list, clicking "clear all" to deselect everything. Then go back and select only the categories above.

❌ EXCLUDE (Uncheck everything else, particularly):

  • Ads and businesses
  • Apps and websites
  • Search history
  • Location/places
  • Events
  • Security and login info (DO NOT INCLUDE - we do not need or want this, and will refuse your upload if you include it)
  • Preferences
  • Personal information
  • Pages you follow/like
  • Friends lists
  • Saved items
  • Fundraisers
  • Data logs (Will take a very long time for Meta to collate, weeks(!), and are not needed)

💡 Why This Matters

  • Privacy: We only analyze content you've publicly shared or created
  • Speed: Smaller exports = faster processing by Meta/Reddit (10 minutes to an hour, rather than definitely hours) and by Gonnae No Say That
  • File Size: Typical export will be 50-200MB instead of several GB
  • Security: Less sensitive data = less risk during upload

Step 5: Submit Request

  1. Click "Save" (takes you back to the main export settings page)
  2. Wait for Facebook's email notification (typically 10-60 minutes)
  3. Click "Start Export"
  4. Enter your password
  5. Wait for the export to complete (you'll receive a notification email form Facebook)
  6. Download the ZIP file
  7. Upload to our platform

💡 Pro Tip: If the export is taking longer than 2 hours, you may have included too many categories. Cancel and restart with fewer selections.

📷 Instagram (and Threads, if used)

Time required: 15-60 minutes (typically faster with our streamlined selection)

File size: 20-100MB (much smaller than full export)

📺 Watch Video Guide Go to Instagram Settings →
Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Request Your Data

  1. Open Instagram app or go to https://accountscenter.instagram.com/info_and_permissions/dyi/
  2. Go to Settings → Accounts Center → Your information and permissions
  3. Click "Download your information"
  4. Select your Instagram account

Step 2: Choose Date Range

Select 5 years (or your preferred date range)

Step 3: Format Settings

  • Format: JSON (VITAL!!!)
  • Media Quality: Low (faster download, smaller file size)

⚠️ Step 4: IMPORTANT - Select These Categories ONLY

Instagram's export has changed. Here's exactly what to select:

✅ REQUIRED - Check These Boxes:

Under "Your Instagram activity":

  • Comments - Your comments on other people's posts
  • Messages - Only if you want message analysis (see "Optional" section below for details)
  • Threads - Your Threads posts and replies (if you use Threads)
  • Media - Your photos, videos, Reels (the actual image/video files)
  • Edits - Contains post content and edit history

⚠️ CRITICAL: These selections are required. Without them, we cannot scan your Instagram activity.

❌ DESELECT - Uncheck Everything Else:

Leave all other boxes UNCHECKED:

  • Avatars Store, Checkout, Events, Fundraisers, Gifts
  • Likes (just taps, not your words)
  • Meta Spark, Monetisation, Saved
  • Story interactions (views, not content)
  • Subscriptions, Quicksnaps, Reports, Shared access, AI
  • Personal information (entire section)
  • Connections (entire section)
  • Logged information (entire section)
  • Security and login information <(DO NOT INCLUDE - we do not need or want this, and will refuse your upload if you include it)/li>
  • Apps and websites off Instagram (entire section)
  • Preferences (entire section)
  • Ads information (entire section)

💡 Why These Specific Selections?

What we CAN scan:

  • ✅ Comments you wrote on other people's posts
  • ✅ Private messages (if you opted in)
  • ✅ Threads posts and replies (if you use Threads)
  • ✅ Post captions from your images/videos/Reels
  • ✅ Edited post content and history

What we CANNOT scan (even if you include it):

  • ❌ Likes, follows, story views (no text content)
  • ❌ Other people's posts (privacy)
  • ❌ Account settings, login info (not relevant)

Why exclude most categories:

  • Faster download: 20-100MB instead of 2GB+
  • Better privacy: Less sensitive data in transit
  • Quicker processing: We only analyze what you wrote

📱 Optional: Private Messages (Advanced Users Only)

By default, we do NOT scan your private Instagram DMs.

If you specifically want us to review your DMs:

  1. Also select "Messages" under "Messages" section
  2. This will include your_instagram_activity/messages/ in your export
  3. We will only analyze messages YOU wrote, not what others sent you
  4. Flag this when uploading: "Include private messages in review"

⚠️ Most users should skip this - employers normally review public material, not private messages.

Step 5: Submit Request

  1. Click "Request a download"
  2. Wait for Instagram's notification (email or in-app, typically 15-60 minutes)
  3. Download the ZIP file when ready
  4. Upload to our platform

💡 Pro Tip: Instagram processes smaller requests much faster. By excluding unnecessary categories, you'll get your file in 15-60 minutes instead of waiting 2-24 hours for large exports.

⚠️ Common Mistakes
  • Mistake 1: Only selecting "Media"
    ❌ This gives you image files but NO captions or text content
    ✅ You must select all 5 required categories (Comments, Messages if wanted, Threads, Media, Edits)
  • Mistake 2: Not selecting "Edits"
    ❌ We cannot scan your post captions without this
    ✅ Always include "Edits" - it contains your post content
  • Mistake 3: Selecting everything
    ❌ 2GB+ file, 24-48 hour wait, privacy risk
    ✅ Only select the 5 categories listed above (or 4 if skipping Messages)
❓ FAQ

Q: What if I don't write captions on my Instagram posts?
A: We can still scan your comments on other people's posts and Threads content (if applicable). If you only post images without captions, there's no text to analyze.

Q: What about Stories?
A: Instagram Stories expire after 24 hours and are not included in data exports unless you saved them as Highlights with captions.

Q: What about Reels?
A: Reels captions are included in "Edits" and "Media" sections, same as regular posts.

Q: Do I need to select "Threads" if I don't use Threads?
A: No, but it won't hurt. If you don't use Threads, the folder will be empty or minimal.

🤖 Reddit

Time required: 24-48 hours (Reddit prepares your full export)

File size: 5-50MB (depends on your activity level)

Go to Reddit Data Request →
Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Request Your Data

  1. Go to Reddit on desktop/browser (not mobile app)
  2. Click your profile icon → Settings
  3. Scroll down to Privacy & Security
  4. Under "Data Request", click "Request Data"
  5. Confirm your email address

Step 2: Wait for Your Data

  • Reddit will email you when your export is ready (usually 24-48 hours)
  • You'll receive a download link valid for 14 days

💡 Why Reddit is Different

You don't need to exclude anything!

Reddit sends one package with everything, but our system automatically:

  • ✅ Analyzes only your posts and comments
  • ❌ Ignores all metadata, votes, subscriptions, and personal info
  • ⚠️ Skips private messages unless you explicitly opt-in

Step 3: What Reddit Includes

✅ WE ANALYZE (What we extract from your download):

  • comments.csv - Comments you've written
  • posts.csv - Posts you've submitted (titles and text)

⚠️ OPTIONAL (Only if you explicitly opt-in):

  • messages_archive.csv - Your private messages (requires --include-messages flag)
  • drafts.csv - Your unpublished drafts (requires --include-drafts flag)

❌ WE AUTOMATICALLY IGNORE (Privacy-protected):

  • Account information (email, phone, birthdate, gender)
  • IP logs and login history
  • Voting history (upvotes/downvotes)
  • Saved posts and comments
  • Hidden posts
  • Subscribed subreddits
  • Friends list
  • Payment/purchase history
  • Reddit Gold/awards
  • Ad preferences
  • User settings

Step 4: Upload to Our Platform

  1. Download the ZIP file when Reddit emails you
  2. Upload the entire ZIP file to our platform (don't unzip it)
  3. We'll automatically extract only the files we need

🔒 File Size & Privacy

  • Typical export: 5-50MB (depends on how active you are)
  • What we see: Only the text YOU wrote in public posts/comments
  • What we ignore: Everything else (voting patterns, subscriptions, personal info, etc.)

💡 Pro Tip: Unlike Facebook/Instagram, you can't customize what Reddit includes in the export. But don't worry - we only look at your posts and comments by default. All sensitive data is automatically filtered out.

⚠️ Default Behavior: We do NOT analyze your private messages or drafts unless you specifically enable those options when uploading.

Common Questions

Q: The export is huge! Do I need to remove files before uploading?

A: No! Upload the whole ZIP. Our system automatically ignores 95% of it and only reads your posts/comments.

Q: What about my voting history?

A: We don't look at it. Upvotes/downvotes aren't your words, so they're not analyzed.

Q: Will you see my deleted posts?

A: Only if Reddit included them in your export. We analyze whatever Reddit gives you.

✅ Once You Have Your Data

  1. Download all archives to your computer
  2. Don't unzip them - we need the original files
  3. Go to Get Started to verify your email and validate your archive

Get Started →

Need Help?

Stuck on any step? Email us at help@gonnaenosaythat.co.uk and we'll walk you through it.

Privacy note: Your data is only used for reviewing. We delete it within 7 days of sending your report. See the Privacy & Terms for more details.