As social media guidelines become more and more strict, many fear being deplatformed and losing contact with their community, friends, fans, and clients. In response to this, many have began downloading their Instagram data in preparation for the the app's new Community Guidelines. This data is crucial when one is deplatformed and needs to reconnect with their community and rebuild their audience.

But here's the problem — Upon opening these data files, a user is met with a large compressed JSON file. Something quite overwhelming (and seemingly useless) to someone who doesn't know how read it.

To solve this issue, I've created a browser application where a user can paste in the text from their connections.json file to receive an organized list of their followers, following, and mutuals. All list items are links to allow easy reconnection when one is logged into IG via browser. (Save and export functionality coming soon!!)

This isn't the first application I've created with sex workers, educators, and artists in mind. And in the age of FOSTA-SESTA, the EARN IT Act, and SISEA, it definitely won't be my last.

CLICK TO LAUNCH APPLICATION!

INSTRUCTIONS

1. If you haven't already downloaded your IG data, go to your profile and open Settings and then Security. Under Data and History, click Download Data and follow the instructions
2. When receiving your email confirmation, follow instructions on downloading your data files to your computer
3. Unzip your files
4. Open the folder that has part_1 at the end of its name
5. In this folder, open the file named connections.json
6. CMD/CTRL+A and COPY the text in this file
7. PASTE text into text area of application
8. Hit VIEW CONNECTIONS, and voila!

CURRENT FUNCTIONALITY

• Users can paste in their 'connections.json' file from their downloaded IG data, and are returned an organized list of links for their followers, following, and mutuals (TIP: Log into IG in a separate window and open links to quickly follow and message your favs from your new account!)
• No information is uploaded or saved to this converter. This application simply reads and renders data in a more useful format.
• Users can manually copy their lists, and search through them using CMD/CTRL+F

IN THE WORKS

• Ability to search lists
• Ability to export lists to text documents or spreadsheets