Instagram Channel

1. Introduction

In order to set up the Business Messenger app Instagram Channel, every Business Messenger app (BM) Instance Owner has to have verified Meta Business Account with a FB App approved by Meta.

The preset process is almost the same as for the Facebook channel, with a difference in setting up the webhooks and needed permissions.

2. The Channel Settings

The following steps are the channel preset for BM Instance Owner. Please follow the instructions.

1. Register as a Facebook Developer on Meta for Developers page.
   If you have the Facebook channel configured, you already have the FB Developer account.

2. Create a FB App by following the instructions on How to create an App page.
   If you have already set the Facebook channel, you can use the same FB App and skip this step, or you can create a new one for the Instagram account.

   • For the app, make sure to populate these fields: Terms of Service URL, Privacy Policy URL, Contact Email, App Icon, Category: Messenger Bots for Business, Data Protection Officer Contact Information.
   • In the Settings > Advanced > Upgrade API version select v12.0 for both select boxes.

3. Once the App creation flow is completed, your App will be loaded in the App Dashboard.

   From the App Dashboard:

   • Add the Messenger product to the App.
     More about Meta Messenger Platform you can find on Overview for the Messenger Platform page.
   • Add the Facebook Login product. Go to its settings and set "Login with the JavaScript SDK" as YES, and for the "Allowed Domains for the JavaScript SDK" add your Business Messenger app instance domain.

   You can skip this step if you are using the same FB App as for the Facebook channel.

4. Please find your App ID and App Secret data in the Settings > Basic section of your App Dashboard. You will need these data for the Business Messenger app Instagram channel setup.

5. Setup a Webhook with a Verify Token and a URL you will get from the Business Messenger app.

   In order to get the Verify Token and the URL, please open the Business Messenger app's Admin Settings section, and then settings for the BM Instagram channel.

   

   A new window will be opened where you can add your App ID and App Secret data from the 4th step of this document. After saving these data, a pop-up window will show the URL and the Verify Token.

   From your FB App Dashboard, please navigate to Messenger > Instagram Settings. In the Webhooks section, enter Callback URL and Verify Token you've got from the Business Messenger app.
   On the same page, click on "Add Subscriptions" button and check the following fields: messages, messaging_postbacks and message_reactions, and click the Save button.

6. Create Meta Business Account on Create account page, and submit it for "Business Verification". Business verification confirms that Meta Business Account belongs to an actual business or organization.
   More information and steps of the verification process, please find here:

   • About business verification
   • Verify your business in business settings

   You can skip this step if you already have the Facebook channel configured.

7. Add your FB App to your Meta Business Account. Please find the instruction on how to add apps to Meta Business Account on Add apps to your Business Manager page.

   You can skip this step if you already have the Facebook channel configured and you are using the same FB App for the Instagram channel.

8. You will need to pass "Access Verification" as well to verify that your business is a Tech Provider. Please check details on Access Verification page.

   You can skip this step if you already have the Facebook channel configured.

9. In order to make your FB App publicly accessible, you have to prepare docs and videos for App Review.
   

   In short, the app review process consists of adjusting the application settings. This includes logo, description, various legality/TOS pages, help pages, etc. After that, Meta will require a short video clip where they can see how the app is used in the context of the Facebook channel for BM Easy Dialog. This means that you have to record how to set up BM Facebook channel and how it is used in the Easy Dialog app (opt-in, chatting, etc). Also, you'll need to provide access to your platform to their team so they can test your implementation.

   Please find additional help documentation regarding the App Review process here:

   • App Review main page
   • Guidance for Screen Recording
   • Guidance for Logos and Trademarks for application
   • Common mistakes
   • Messenger Platform sample submission
   • Sample submission for FB login
   • Rejection guide for general FB apps (for login)
   • Rejection guide for FB apps with Messenger related features
   • FAQs
   • Ongoing compliance checks

   Docs and videos should be prepared for needed permissions and features.
   The needed permissions are: pages_show_list, pages_manage_metadata, instagram_basic and instagram_manage_messages. The needed feature is Business Asset User Profile Access.

   If the Facebook channel is already configured, you have to prepare docs and videos just for instagram_basic and instagram_manage_messages permissions, since the use of the others is already approved.

10. Submit your App Review for Meta approval for needed permissions for FB Messenger.

With these steps completed, we can continue on setting up the Instagram channel for the BM accounts.