Community Feedback and Objections

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 137 views

Introduction

As we continue to evolve and improve our authentication and authorization systems, we are considering deprecating the Instagram social provider and eventually removing it in a future release. This decision is not taken lightly, and we want to first create a discussion to share the reasoning behind it with the community. In this article, we will outline the reasons for deprecating the Instagram social provider and invite feedback and objections from the community.

Reasons for Deprecation

1. Instagram's Shift to Facebook Authentication

Instagram is a social network and a product owned by Meta, and their documentation suggests that they are pushing users to use Facebook authentication instead. This shift in focus raises questions about the continued support for Instagram login. We assume that the support for Facebook login is sufficient for those who want to authenticate to Meta and use Instagram APIs. However, we also acknowledge that the documentation for Instagram login is confusing and hard to follow.

2. Complexity of Setting Up Instagram Login

Instagram login has undergone changes that make it challenging to set up a client application to configure a social broker in Keycloak. We have struggled to figure out how to configure a social broker for Instagram, and it's possible that we are missing something. This complexity adds to the cost of testing and supporting the Instagram social broker.

3. Lack of Community Issues and Justification

Despite our efforts to support the Instagram social broker, we have not received any community complaints about its functionality. However, our Quality Engineering (QE) team has raised a single issue, which is not enough to justify the continued support for this social broker. The issues we have closed do not provide sufficient justification for maintaining the Instagram social broker.

4. Limited Access and Control

We have no access and no control over the credentials and applications currently being used to configure the Instagram broker tests. This lack of control makes it difficult for us to obtain verification codes when the Identity Provider (IdP) requests a 2nd factor during the authentication process. This is not a problem specific to Instagram, and we should consider reviewing our social broker test configuration to rely on email accounts from the redhat.com domain or other ways that allow our team continuous access to user accounts across different social brokers.

Community Feedback and Objections

We want to hear from the community about this decision. Is there any objection to deprecating and removing the Instagram social provider? We invite you to share your thoughts and concerns about this decision. Please provide feedback on the following:

Do you use the Instagram social provider, and if so, how often?
Have you experienced any issues with the Instagram social provider?
Do you have any alternative solutions or workarounds for authentication and authorization?
Are there any specific features or functionality that you rely on the Instagram social provider for?

Conclusion

Deprecating the Instagram social provider is a significant decision, and we want to ensure that we make the right choice for our community. We invite you to share your feedback and objections to this decision. Your input will help us make an informed decision about the future of the Instagram social provider.

Future Steps

If there are no objections or concerns raised by the community, we will proceed with deprecating the Instagram social provider and updating the release and upgrade guides accordingly. We will also review our social broker test configuration to ensure that we have a reliable and accessible way to test and support our social brokers.

References

[1] Meta Documentation: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/facebook-login/

[2] Instagram Documentation: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/instagram-login/

[3] QE Team Issue: [Insert issue number or description]

Deprecation Policy
Social Broker Configuration
Authentication and Authorization
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Deprecating the Instagram Social Broker ====================================================================================

Introduction

As we consider deprecating the Instagram social provider, we want to provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about this decision. Below, you will find a list of FAQs that address common concerns and provide more information about the deprecation process.

Q: What is the reason for deprecating the Instagram social provider?

A: We are deprecating the Instagram social provider due to several reasons, including:

Instagram's shift to Facebook authentication, which makes it confusing and hard to follow.
The complexity of setting up Instagram login, which adds to the cost of testing and supporting the social broker.
The lack of community issues and justification for maintaining the Instagram social broker.
Limited access and control over the credentials and applications currently being used to configure the Instagram broker tests.

Q: Will deprecating the Instagram social provider affect my ability to authenticate with Instagram?

A: Yes, deprecating the Instagram social provider will affect your ability to authenticate with Instagram. If you rely on the Instagram social provider for authentication, you will need to find an alternative solution or work around.

Q: What are the alternatives to the Instagram social provider?

A: There are several alternatives to the Instagram social provider, including:

Facebook login, which is recommended by Meta as the primary authentication method for Instagram.
Other social media providers, such as Google, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Custom authentication solutions, such as email or password-based authentication.

Q: How will the deprecation process affect my existing applications or integrations?

A: The deprecation process will not affect your existing applications or integrations immediately. However, we recommend that you update your applications or integrations to use alternative authentication methods as soon as possible.

Q: What is the timeline for deprecating the Instagram social provider?

A: We are currently considering deprecating the Instagram social provider in a future release. The exact timeline will depend on community feedback and the deprecation process.

Q: How can I provide feedback or objections to the deprecation decision?

A: You can provide feedback or objections to the deprecation decision by commenting on this article or reaching out to us directly. We value your input and want to ensure that we make the right decision for our community.

Q: What happens to my existing Instagram social broker configurations?

A: We will provide guidance on how to update your existing Instagram social broker configurations to use alternative authentication methods. We recommend that you update your configurations as soon as possible to avoid any disruptions.

Q: Can I still use the Instagram social provider after it is deprecated?

A: No, you will not be able to use the Instagram social provider after it is deprecated. We will remove the Instagram social provider from our systems, and it will no longer be available for use.

Q: What is the impact on our social broker test configuration?

A: We will review our social broker test configuration to ensure that we have a reliable and accessible way to test and support our social brokers. We may need to update our test configuration to rely on email accounts from the redhat.com domain or other ways that allow our team continuous access to user accounts across different social brokers.

Q: How can I get help or support during the deprecation process?

A: You can reach out to us directly for help or support during the deprecation process. We will provide guidance and assistance to ensure a smooth transition to alternative authentication methods.

Q: What is the next step in the deprecation process?

A: The next step in the deprecation process is to update the release and upgrade guides to reflect the deprecation of the Instagram social provider. We will also review our social broker test configuration to ensure that we have a reliable and accessible way to test and support our social brokers.

Q: Can I appeal the deprecation decision?

A: Yes, you can appeal the deprecation decision by providing feedback or objections to the deprecation decision. We will consider your input and make a final decision about the deprecation of the Instagram social provider.