diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/proprietary/platforms/instagram/parsers.py b/surfsense_backend/app/proprietary/platforms/instagram/parsers.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..96d66a2c5
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+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/proprietary/platforms/instagram/parsers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,223 @@
+"""Pure JSON -> item mapping for the Instagram scraper.
+
+Framework-agnostic and I/O-free so it can be unit-tested against captured
+fixtures. Every function takes a raw Instagram web-JSON node and returns a plain
+dict shaped like the public actor spec — no network, no proxy, no ``scrapedAt``
+stamp (the orchestrator adds provenance so these stay deterministic under
+fixture tests).
+
+Instagram's web JSON nests media under GraphQL-style ``edge_*`` containers
+(``edge_media_to_caption``, ``edge_liked_by``, ...) with ``taken_at_timestamp``
+epoch seconds. These parsers flatten that into the actor's camelCase item shape.
+Fields the anonymous endpoints don't expose are left unset (``None``/``[]``) so
+parity is additive.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import re
+from datetime import UTC, datetime
+from typing import Any
+
+_BASE = "https://www.instagram.com"
+_HASHTAG_RE = re.compile(r"#(\w+)")
+_MENTION_RE = re.compile(r"@([\w.]+)")
+_TYPE_MAP = {
+    "GraphImage": "Image",
+    "GraphVideo": "Video",
+    "GraphSidecar": "Sidecar",
+    "XDTGraphImage": "Image",
+    "XDTGraphVideo": "Video",
+    "XDTGraphSidecar": "Sidecar",
+}
+
+
+def _int(value: Any) -> int | None:
+    """Coerce to int, or ``None`` (never coerces bools)."""
+    if isinstance(value, bool):
+        return None
+    if isinstance(value, int):
+        return value
+    if isinstance(value, float):
+        return int(value)
+    return None
+
+
+def _utc_from_sec(value: Any) -> str | None:
+    """Epoch seconds -> millisecond ISO string, or ``None``."""
+    if not isinstance(value, int | float) or isinstance(value, bool):
+        return None
+    dt = datetime.fromtimestamp(float(value), tz=UTC)
+    return dt.strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.%f")[:-3] + "Z"
+
+
+def _edge_count(node: dict[str, Any], key: str) -> int | None:
+    """``node[key].count`` for a GraphQL ``edge_*`` container."""
+    container = node.get(key)
+    if isinstance(container, dict):
+        return _int(container.get("count"))
+    return None
+
+
+def _edges(container: Any) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+    """``container.edges[].node`` list for a GraphQL ``edge_*`` container."""
+    if not isinstance(container, dict):
+        return []
+    out = []
+    for edge in container.get("edges") or []:
+        node = edge.get("node") if isinstance(edge, dict) else None
+        if not isinstance(node, dict):
+            continue
+        out.append(node)
+    return out
+
+
+def _caption_text(node: dict[str, Any]) -> str | None:
+    """First caption edge's text (web feed) or a flat ``caption`` fallback."""
+    edges = _edges(node.get("edge_media_to_caption"))
+    if edges:
+        text = edges[0].get("text")
+        if isinstance(text, str):
+            return text
+    cap = node.get("caption")
+    if isinstance(cap, dict):
+        cap = cap.get("text")
+    if isinstance(cap, str):
+        return cap
+    return None
+
+
+def _likes_count(node: dict[str, Any]) -> int | None:
+    """Like count. ``-1`` (creator hid it) is passed through, never coerced."""
+    for key in ("edge_liked_by", "edge_media_preview_like"):
+        count = _edge_count(node, key)
+        if count is not None:
+            return count
+    return _int(node.get("like_count"))
+
+
+def _shortcode(node: dict[str, Any]) -> str | None:
+    code = node.get("shortcode") or node.get("code")
+    if isinstance(code, str):
+        return code
+    return None
+
+
+def parse_media(node: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Map a raw timeline/feed media node to a flat media item dict."""
+    code = _shortcode(node)
+    caption = _caption_text(node)
+    typename = node.get("__typename")
+    owner = node.get("owner") if isinstance(node.get("owner"), dict) else {}
+    dims = node.get("dimensions") if isinstance(node.get("dimensions"), dict) else {}
+    is_video = bool(node.get("is_video"))
+    return {
+        "id": node.get("id"),
+        "type": _TYPE_MAP.get(typename) or ("Video" if is_video else "Image"),
+        "shortCode": code,
+        "caption": caption,
+        "hashtags": _HASHTAG_RE.findall(caption) if caption else [],
+        "mentions": _MENTION_RE.findall(caption) if caption else [],
+        "url": f"{_BASE}/p/{code}/" if code else None,
+        "commentsCount": _edge_count(node, "edge_media_to_comment")
+        or _int(node.get("comment_count")),
+        "dimensionsHeight": _int(dims.get("height")),
+        "dimensionsWidth": _int(dims.get("width")),
+        "displayUrl": node.get("display_url"),
+        "videoUrl": node.get("video_url") if is_video else None,
+        "alt": node.get("accessibility_caption"),
+        "likesCount": _likes_count(node),
+        "videoViewCount": _int(node.get("video_view_count")) if is_video else None,
+        "timestamp": _utc_from_sec(node.get("taken_at_timestamp")),
+        "ownerUsername": owner.get("username"),
+        "ownerId": owner.get("id") or node.get("owner_id"),
+        "ownerFullName": owner.get("full_name"),
+        "isCommentsDisabled": node.get("comments_disabled"),
+    }
+
+
+def parse_comment(node: dict[str, Any], *, post_url: str | None) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Map a raw comment node to a flat comment item dict."""
+    owner = node.get("owner") if isinstance(node.get("owner"), dict) else {}
+    code = _shortcode(node)
+    return {
+        "id": node.get("id"),
+        "postUrl": post_url,
+        "commentUrl": f"{_BASE}/p/{code}/c/{node.get('id')}/" if code else None,
+        "text": node.get("text"),
+        "ownerUsername": owner.get("username"),
+        "ownerProfilePicUrl": owner.get("profile_pic_url"),
+        "timestamp": _utc_from_sec(node.get("created_at")),
+        "repliesCount": _edge_count(node, "edge_threaded_comments")
+        or _int(node.get("child_comment_count")),
+        "likesCount": _edge_count(node, "edge_liked_by")
+        or _int(node.get("comment_like_count")),
+        "owner": {"id": owner.get("id"), "username": owner.get("username")}
+        if owner
+        else None,
+    }
+
+
+def parse_profile(user: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Map a raw ``web_profile_info`` ``data.user`` to a flat profile item dict."""
+    username = user.get("username")
+    latest = [parse_media(n) for n in _edges(user.get("edge_owner_to_timeline_media"))]
+    return {
+        "detailKind": "profile",
+        "id": user.get("id"),
+        "username": username,
+        "url": f"{_BASE}/{username}/" if username else None,
+        "fullName": user.get("full_name"),
+        "biography": user.get("biography"),
+        "externalUrl": user.get("external_url"),
+        "followersCount": _edge_count(user, "edge_followed_by"),
+        "followsCount": _edge_count(user, "edge_follow"),
+        "postsCount": _edge_count(user, "edge_owner_to_timeline_media"),
+        "highlightReelCount": _int(user.get("highlight_reel_count")),
+        "igtvVideoCount": _edge_count(user, "edge_felix_video_timeline"),
+        "isBusinessAccount": user.get("is_business_account"),
+        "businessCategoryName": user.get("business_category_name"),
+        "private": user.get("is_private"),
+        "verified": user.get("is_verified"),
+        "profilePicUrl": user.get("profile_pic_url"),
+        "profilePicUrlHD": user.get("profile_pic_url_hd"),
+        "latestPosts": latest,
+    }
+
+
+def parse_hashtag(data: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Map a raw ``tags/web_info`` payload to a flat hashtag item dict."""
+    node = data.get("data") if isinstance(data.get("data"), dict) else data
+    name = node.get("name")
+    top = _edges(node.get("edge_hashtag_to_top_posts"))
+    recent = _edges(node.get("edge_hashtag_to_media"))
+    return {
+        "detailKind": "hashtag",
+        "id": node.get("id"),
+        "name": name,
+        "url": f"{_BASE}/explore/tags/{name}/" if name else None,
+        "postsCount": _edge_count(node, "edge_hashtag_to_media"),
+        "topPosts": [parse_media(n) for n in top],
+        "posts": [parse_media(n) for n in recent],
+    }
+
+
+def parse_place(data: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Map a raw ``locations/web_info`` payload to a flat place item dict."""
+    loc = data.get("location") if isinstance(data.get("location"), dict) else data
+    recent = _edges(loc.get("edge_location_to_media"))
+    return {
+        "detailKind": "place",
+        "name": loc.get("name"),
+        "location_id": str(loc.get("id")) if loc.get("id") is not None else None,
+        "slug": loc.get("slug"),
+        "lat": loc.get("lat"),
+        "lng": loc.get("lng"),
+        "location_address": loc.get("address_json") or loc.get("address"),
+        "location_city": loc.get("city"),
+        "phone": loc.get("phone"),
+        "website": loc.get("website"),
+        "category": loc.get("category"),
+        "media_count": _edge_count(loc, "edge_location_to_media"),
+        "posts": [parse_media(n) for n in recent],
+    }