Instagram API error: Maximum number of sponsors exceeded (2)

Instagram's content publishing page lists two related errors, both under INSTAGRAM_PLATFORM_API__INVALID_PARAM: "Maximum number of sponsors exceeded. Limit is 2 per post." and "Cannot tag yourself as sponsor." Fix them by validating the sponsor list before the container call: at most two sponsors, and never the publishing account itself.

Error text is from Meta's page as read 2026-10-01. The snapshot shows the messages, not the parameter details, so check the live parameter reference for the exact field.

What do the two errors mean?

Both come back as invalid-parameter errors, which means the request is malformed and a retry with the same input will fail again.

Where does Sume fit?

Sume produces the file and returns it; sponsor ids belong to the Instagram container call that you make. For a video, download from the content URL as in the Videos flow, or pass the durable URL from a Format run as the media URL.

How do I keep sponsors with each item in a batch?

Each bulk item carries its own instruction and input, per Bulk runs, so put the brand and its sponsor ids in your own row data and validate at publish time. The Sume 429 rule is separate: for rate_limited, the errors page says to wait retry-after. For the 24-hour post ceiling see the 100 posts post.