Social Alerts

How to set up Instagram alerts on your Discord server

This tutorial explains how Instagram alerts work, how to add accounts, how to customize post and story messages, and what to check before your alerts go live.

Reading time 5 minPublished July 9 2026Last update July 9 2026Published by SiennaNation
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Instagram alerts currently work best with public profiles. If an account is private or the lookup provider cannot read it, the dashboard will not be able to save it.

Overview

The Instagram plugin watches selected Instagram accounts and posts an alert in your Discord server when new content is detected. You can track multiple accounts depending on your plan, choose the target channel for each one, and keep separate message text for regular posts and stories.

Post alerts

Sends a message to your selected Discord channel when the tracked Instagram account publishes new content.

Story alerts

Can send a second alert when the same public account publishes a story, using a separate message template.

Custom messages

Lets you write the exact notification text and use the account placeholder inside both post and story messages.

Account controls

Each tracked account can be enabled, disabled, edited, or removed without recreating the whole alert.

Dashboard setup

Open the SiennaNation dashboard, choose your server, then open the Instagram plugin. Use the account form to add the Instagram profile and decide where the alert should be posted.

Enter the Instagram account.Paste the full Instagram profile URL or type the username directly.
Choose the Discord channel.Select the channel where SiennaNation should post the alert.
Write the post message.Use your own wording and include the account placeholder if you want the username displayed.
Enable stories if needed.Turn on Instagram Stories only when you want a second alert for public stories.
Save the alert.The account appears in your Instagram alerts list and can be toggled on or off later.

Message variables

Instagram messages support a simple account variable. Keep the message clear and avoid broad mentions unless your server actually wants every Instagram alert to ping a large audience.

VariableDescriptionExample output
{instagram_account}Replaces the token with the tracked Instagram account name.@siennanation
Example post messageHey, {instagram_account} just posted a new shot!Example story messageHey, {instagram_account} just posted a new story!

Story alerts

Story alerts are optional. When enabled, SiennaNation uses the same Instagram account and the same target Discord channel, but it sends the text from the Story message box. This keeps post alerts and story alerts separate without requiring two tracked accounts.

  • Stories are only useful for public accounts that the lookup provider can read.
  • The story message has its own character counter and can use {instagram_account}.
  • If stories are disabled, the account can still send normal post alerts.

Managing existing alerts

The alert list shows the configured account, the Instagram ID when available, the target channel, enabled status, and badges for enabled content types.

Use the enable switch for quick pauses.Disable an alert when you want to keep the configuration but stop posting temporarily.
Edit when the channel or text changes.The edit form updates the Discord channel, post message, and story settings for that account.
Remove accounts you no longer need.Removing an account frees the slot for another Instagram profile.

Permissions and common fixes

Most Instagram issues come from account visibility, channel permissions, or external provider limits. Check these points first.

The account cannot be found

Use the full profile URL or the exact username. Private Instagram accounts are not supported in the current flow.

The alert does not send

Check that the alert is enabled, the selected channel still exists, and the bot can send messages there.

The profile image looks broken

Instagram image URLs can expire or block hotlinking. The dashboard uses a proxy and fallback, but some avatars may refresh later.

The account saves, but no alert appears

Confirm the alert is enabled and that SiennaNation can view and send messages in the selected channel. Also remember that social alerts are checked by a background poller, so they are not instant the second a post appears.

The account reached the limit

The counter in the Instagram alerts card shows how many accounts are configured out of your server plan limit. Remove an unused account or upgrade the server plan if you need more slots.

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