What you get back

We look at the video, the photos and the caption, work out what the post is about, and turn it into a find: a title, a short label like the card next to a painting in a museum, and the details that matter for that kind of thing.

By kind

• Things to buy. The closest match we can find, with its store and price, and cheaper lookalikes sorted by price. A reel with several products ("6 desk upgrades") lists each one with its own store.
• Places to eat. The cuisine, the area and city, a pin on your map and one tap to directions.
• Recipes. The key facts, like the ingredients and how long it takes.
• Films and shows. The year and who made it.
• Events. The date and where it's on.
• Ideas. Rooms, outfits and trips, with tags so you find them again.

Nothing gets turned away. If we're not sure what a post is, it still becomes a find, credited to whoever posted it.

What people say

For products and places we look up what people say about them, in reviews, forums and food guides, and sum it up in our own words: a one-line verdict, what people love, the catch, and tips like what to order or how the sizing runs. The sites it comes from are listed underneath. You'll find it on the find, and the bot sends it to you as a message. See Chatting with the bot.

The reel, as you saw it

Moments from the reel keep their real shape and play as short silent loops. Tap one to see it full screen. See more on Instagram opens the original post. More in A find, up close.

Closest match, never "the exact one"

We say closest match because sometimes it isn't the exact item. If it's wrong, tap Wrong item? and we take another look. Lookalikes are real products from real shops: we drop anything that looks like a replica or a fake.