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Instagram & Thread Research Tasks

(This page was last updated on the 20/01/2024)

Without making any direct contact with any individuals identified during this exercise, complete the following tasks, using any of the useful links on the Instagram Sites page of our website at www.uk-osint.net. You should spend at least 5 minutes on each task.

These Tasks will require you to have an Instagram account and it is best that you have use of an Instagram account set up in a false persona rather use your own personal account, even though you will not be required to post anything or Friend / Follow anyone.

If you are struggling move on to the next task or Email us to ask for assistance.


1. Using the link under the Pre-Set Google Search To Search Instagram Via A Location heading on the Instagram page of our website, add the name of a city or town close to where you live or work to the Google search and then select a location from one of those results returned. Now view the photos uploaded and linked to that location and then select a photograph you are interested in which is linked to a personal Instagram account.


2. From the selected photograph obtain the Instagram account holders account name and then view their Instagram account page.


3. Whilst on this Instagram account, click on the three dots to the right of the account name, to identifier when this account was created.


4. Using one of the links under the Turn An Instagram Account Name Or Photo Into An Instagram Account ID Number heading on the Instagram page of our website, obtain the Instagram Account ID Number linked to the selected Instagram account.


5. Click on one of the recent photographs uploaded from this account, to answer the following;

   a)  what is the URL of this uploaded image
   b)  check the displayed date on the uploaded image and then by using the technique described in the training
        material and on our website, locate the exact time & date the image was uploaded, as displayed in the Developer
        Tools section, shown after the phrase datetime
   c)  check the uploaded posting, checking any Comments or Likes, to see if those that have Commented or Liked the
        posting have the subject listed under their Followers / Followings


6. Now using the Account Name or Screen Name and / or any other useful information about the account holders bio, search on Google or another search engine for any other information or linked social media accounts for the subject, checking to see if any of the previously identified useful material or photographs match with these newly located linked accounts and try to identify the individual's correct name, occupation and rough address/location etc.


7. Now repeat these tasks, using a different city or town as a starting point to select an uploaded image.


8. Whose Instagram account has an Instagram Account Number of 2860143608? and

   a)  what month and year was this account created?
   b)  what country is it based in?
   c)  how many previous account names has it had?
   d)  when was this account verified?
   e)  how many posts has this account uploaded?
   f)  When was their last Post sent?
   g)  When was the last Post they were Tagged in?
   h)  how many accounts is this account Following?


9. Whose Instagram account has an Instagram Account Number of 226440628? and

   a)  what month and year was this account created?
   b)  what country is it based in?
   c)  when was this account verified?
   d)  how many posts has this account uploaded?
   e)  When was their last Post sent?
   f)  When was the last Post they were Tagged in?
   g)  how many accounts is this account Following?
   h)  view any linked Threads account