JSONDecodeError

[parraml]

Begin to unfollow users...
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "insta-unfollower.py", line 301, in
main()
File "insta-unfollower.py", line 290, in main
while unfollow(user) == False:
File "insta-unfollower.py", line 195, in unfollow
response = json.loads(response.text)
File "/usr/lib/python3.5/json/init.py", line 319, in loads
return _default_decoder.decode(s)
File "/usr/lib/python3.5/json/decoder.py", line 339, in decode
obj, end = self.raw_decode(s, idx=_w(s, 0).end())
File "/usr/lib/python3.5/json/decoder.py", line 357, in raw_decode
raise JSONDecodeError("Expecting value", s, err.value) from None
json.decoder.JSONDecodeError: Expecting value: line 2 column 1 (char 1)

PLEASE HELP

[quadroli]

@parrabram i to was facing the exact same issue, but i found this repo worked for me

[parraml]

@parrabram i to enfrentaba exactamente el mismo problema, pero encontré que este repositorio funcionó para mí

thank you very much for the recommendation, I will check it out right now

[tuxity]

You can try again, I have some changes

[Zethrus]

I'm getting this when using the script with both docker and non-docker Python 3.7.
Error below is from docker version:
Traceback (most recent call last): File "insta-unfollower.py", line 282, in <module> main() File "insta-unfollower.py", line 275, in main while unfollow(user) == False: File "insta-unfollower.py", line 190, in unfollow response = json.loads(response.text) File "/usr/local/lib/python3.8/json/__init__.py", line 357, in loads return _default_decoder.decode(s) File "/usr/local/lib/python3.8/json/decoder.py", line 337, in decode obj, end = self.raw_decode(s, idx=_w(s, 0).end()) File "/usr/local/lib/python3.8/json/decoder.py", line 355, in raw_decode raise JSONDecodeError("Expecting value", s, err.value) from None json.decoder.JSONDecodeError: Expecting value: line 1 column 1 (char 0)

[tuxity]

I can't reproduce.

Try to add print(response.text) at line 190 just before response = json.loads(response.text)

Be sure to empty cache folder, and update local git repository to latest version too

[Zethrus]

print(response.text)

With that added before the response variables, here's the error: https://pastebin.com/LZBW14mG

[tuxity]

I think somehow you are not considered as logged in, did you remove files in cache directory ?

[Zethrus]

I think somehow you are not considered as logged in, did you remove files in cache directory ?

Strange, all I did was clear the cache directory before running the script. If I wasn't considered logged in, then how would it unfollow some of the other accounts. For the first few it seems to work fine.

Would it have anything to do with the cache directory being located in the same directory as the cloned git repo? It's located under ~/insta-unfollower/cache

[gab1992]

Python 3.8.6 same error

It also happens the same on the other repo https://github.com/ricardojoserf/instagram-followers-bot
with his program
Exact same error, happen after also 15 unfollowing

Must have to do with instagram blocking unfollowing after 15 unfollow

[tuxity]

Oh it's only doing after few unfollows ? I thought it was on the first.

Then yes, it must be some kind of limit. I will more tests this weekend.

[Zethrus]

Oh it's only doing after few unfollows ? I thought it was on the first.

Then yes, it must be some kind of limit. I will more tests this weekend.

Is there any way I could edit the script to add a time to wait between each unfollow to possibly fix this?
I don't mind running the script in a screen session oon a server all day if thats the case.

[tuxity]

Your account is a new account ? When googling instangram unfollow limits I found this:

    15 unfollows day 1
    20 unfollows day 2
    25 unfollows day 3
    30 unfollows day 4
    35 unfollows day 5
    40 unfollows day 6
    45 unfollows day 7
… and so on until I reach 150 unfollows/day

    1 unfollows/hr day 1
    2 unfollows/hr day 2
    2-3 unfollows/hr day 3
    3 unfollows/hr day 4
    3-4 unfollows/hr day 5
    4 unfollows/hr day 6
    4-5 unfollows/hr day 7

… and so forth until I reach a maximum of 13 unfollows per hour

[Zethrus]

Your account is a new account ? When googling instangram unfollow limits I found this:

Not new at all, 5+ years old. 2300+ following that I have to unfollow.

[gab1992]

I ran it again, 17 unfollowed, and then the File "/usr/lib/python3.8/json/decoder.py", line 355, in raw_decode raise JSONDecodeError("Expecting value", s, err.value) from None json.decoder.JSONDecodeError: Expecting value: line 1 column 1 (char 0) on last line.

Account not new either, I think I have it since 2 years ago.

Easy fix would be to kind of reload the program in case of failure, BUT when I reload it straight after I have the error straight away. So it would need a timer and a restart.
Edit : this time reloaded it straight away (after 10 unfollowed) and was able to unfollow 3. Still must be a limite but it's not precise...

[gab1992]

Could the error come from account that are private and ask if you are sure you want to unfollow them ?

[netayamin]

the error comes up whenever a 429 response received and the message of this response is
"Please wait a few minutes before you try again."

I was able to partly solve this using the following code in the unfollow func:

 if response.status_code == 429 : 
        return False

and with this code added to the main func so it will now loop the function instead of throwing an error:

 if unfollow(user) == False : 
               print("trying to unfollow %s again in 1 min" %(user["username"]))
               sleep(60)
               unfollow(user)

and by increasing the wait time between each unfollow request I believe this error shouldn't appear at all

[R3test678]

Not even getting to unfollow one user, getting error (python 3.8.5)

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "insta-unfollower.py", line 282, in
main()
File "insta-unfollower.py", line 275, in main
while unfollow(user) == False:
File "insta-unfollower.py", line 190, in unfollow
response = json.loads(response.text)
File "/usr/lib/python3.8/json/init.py", line 357, in loads
return _default_decoder.decode(s)
File "/usr/lib/python3.8/json/decoder.py", line 337, in decode
obj, end = self.raw_decode(s, idx=_w(s, 0).end())
File "/usr/lib/python3.8/json/decoder.py", line 355, in raw_decode
raise JSONDecodeError("Expecting value", s, err.value) from None
json.decoder.JSONDecodeError: Expecting value: line 2 column 1 (char 1)

[tuxity]

Sorry for the mega late response, I will check this again. I will try to confirm @netayamin answer and implement the code if needed.

[tuxity]

I managed to get temp banned from Instagram by Following a lot of people in a short time.
I can confirm the fix @netayamin did is working well! Thank you