How to invite multiple users to a Facebook event using the API?

Other Questions API
1

I’m trying to invite multiple friends to a Facebook event using the API but I’m running into issues. Here’s what I’ve tried:

$fb = new FacebookSDK([
  'app_id' => 'YOUR_APP_ID',
  'app_secret' => 'YOUR_APP_SECRET',
  'default_graph_version' => 'v12.0',
]);

$helper = $fb->getRedirectLoginHelper();
$permissions = ['create_event'];
$loginUrl = $helper->getLoginUrl('https://example.com/callback', $permissions);

try {
  $accessToken = $helper->getAccessToken();
  $response = $fb->get('/me/friends', $accessToken);
  $friends = $response->getGraphEdge();
  
  $eventId = 'YOUR_EVENT_ID';
  $invitees = [];
  foreach ($friends as $friend) {
    $invitees[] = $friend['id'];
  }
  
  $fb->post("/$eventId/invited", ['users' => implode(',', $invitees)], $accessToken);
} catch(FacebookResponseException $e) {
  echo 'Graph returned an error: ' . $e->getMessage();
} catch(FacebookSDKException $e) {
  echo 'Facebook SDK returned an error: ' . $e->getMessage();
}

But I’m still getting a permissions error. What additional permissions might I be missing beyond ‘create_event’? Any help would be appreciated!

2

hey there, i’ve run into this before too. make sure you’ve got the ‘rsvp_event’ permission along with ‘create_event’. also, fb’s api can be super picky about invites. you might need to get your app reviewed if you’re inviting loads of people. good luck!

3

I’ve encountered similar issues when working with the Facebook API for event invitations. From my experience, the ‘create_event’ permission alone isn’t sufficient for inviting users. You’ll need to request the ‘rsvp_event’ permission as well.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that Facebook has become more restrictive with their API permissions. You may need to submit your app for review to gain access to these permissions, especially if you’re inviting a large number of users.

Another potential issue is that the ‘/me/friends’ endpoint only returns friends who have also authorized your app. For a more comprehensive solution, you might want to consider using the Taggable Friends API, though this comes with its own set of limitations and review requirements.

Lastly, ensure your app is in Live mode, not Development mode, as this can affect permissions and API behavior.

4

I’ve dealt with this exact problem before, and it can be frustrating. One thing to keep in mind is that Facebook’s API has become increasingly restrictive over time. In addition to the ‘create_event’ and ‘rsvp_event’ permissions, you might need to request ‘user_events’ as well.

Another issue I’ve encountered is rate limiting. If you’re trying to invite a large number of users at once, Facebook might throttle your requests. To work around this, you could try implementing a delay between invitations or batching them in smaller groups.

Also, make sure your app is properly configured in the Facebook Developer Console. Sometimes, permissions that appear to be enabled aren’t actually active until you’ve gone through the necessary review processes.

Lastly, double-check that your access token hasn’t expired. Token expiration can cause unexpected permission errors that are easy to overlook.