# I built LurkAPI: public social media data as JSON from one GET request

> Source: <https://dev.to/lurkapi/i-built-lurkapi-public-social-media-data-as-json-from-one-get-request-1020>
> Published: 2026-11-03 23:12:31+00:00

I built LurkAPI, a social media data API. You send one GET request and get clean JSON from public pages: posts, profiles, comments, video transcripts, and the ads in Meta's, Google's, TikTok's and LinkedIn's ad libraries. It covers 16 platforms with 88 endpoints, and the same endpoints are an MCP server for AI apps.

```
curl "https://api.lurkapi.com/v1/tiktok/profile?handle=nike" \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

The answer, trimmed to a few fields:

```
{
  "success": true,
  "credits_remaining": 99985,
  "credits_charged": 1,
  "user": {
    "uniqueId": "nike",
    "nickname": "Nike",
    "signature": "Just Do It.",
    "verified": true
  },
  "stats": {
    "followerCount": 9253124,
    "heartCount": 49280939,
    "videoCount": 1089
  }
}
```

Every answer has the same envelope: `success`, `credits_charged`, `credits_remaining`, then the data. Errors carry a `code` and a link to the docs.

Add `https://api.lurkapi.com/mcp` to Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Claude Code or Codex (ChatGPT takes `https://api.lurkapi.com/mcp?compact`, which has two tools instead of one per endpoint). You sign in through the browser, so there's no key to paste. Then ask in plain English: "What ads is Allbirds running on Facebook right now?"

`x-api-key` header, so moving is a change of base URL and key.`llms.txt` too.
It reads public data only: it never logs in to anyone's account and can't post or message anyone.

New accounts get 100 free credits with no card, and a balance under 25 tops back up to 25 every day.

I'd like to hear what's missing, or what breaks when you try it.