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I'm letting Facebook users post a link to their feed in exchange for something. For simplicity, I'd like to use the 'Direct URL' method of initializing a feed dialog

(see "Direct URL Example" @ http://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/dialogs/feed/)

which I understand returns a post_id upon success. My question is: *is there anyway to check the validity of this post_id?*

Can I then query the Facebook API for confirmation of this post_id? Couldn't anybody just hit my callback_uri with the post_id parameter set and make it look like they successfully posted to their feed?

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Platform Policies and Promotions Checklist states: "App does not directly reward or require users to use Facebook Social channels, such as Feed stories and Requests." –  Juicy Scripter Mar 5 '12 at 21:36
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2 Answers

You can check the existence of post by issuing request to Graph API just after receiving callback in JS-SDK or visit of your redirect_uri for direct flow of Feed Dialog (you'll need an active user access_token to ensure that post is exists and read_stream permission to ensure that post created using your application):


Once you get the response you can check that application's id in post is matching your application.

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Here's my problem though ... If you're using the Direct URL method of getting a user to make a share, not the oauth authenticated (with read_stream access) method, then what can you do with that post_id that's being sent back? As far as I know you do not have a user token or read_stream access when you go through the direct URL method ... –  Cody Johnston Mar 5 '12 at 22:59
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Here's the fun part. I've experienced this first hand (as well as other stackoverflow users). If you check the post_id via the api, it might return blank!! But if you check after a short period of time (like 90 seconds), then it comes back with the data. So you can check the validity of the post_id at a latter point, but not directly right away.

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In that case, I don't need oauth read_stream access/extended permission/access tokens or anything to see the post? –  Cody Johnston Mar 5 '12 at 21:14
It'll be great if you could link to other Stack Overflow questions/answers that describe that issue. As far as I've tested that functionality it worked smoothly without any lag between post publishing and post data retrieval... –  Juicy Scripter Mar 5 '12 at 21:51
I've seen this behavior as described by CFOS too, it just doesn't wanna give back anything straight away some times. If I wait, then it will work. –  DMCS Mar 6 '12 at 1:38
facebook.stackoverflow.com/questions/9031803/… Here's a link to a question I've answered regarding this. We'll see if @Coder has any input as well. –  DMCS Mar 6 '12 at 1:40
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