# Creator Discovery (SIFT) (/docs/ugc/discovery-sift)



Layers integrates with SIFT for creator and post discovery. SIFT indexes
social platforms and exposes account-level + post-level metadata via API.

## What SIFT exposes [#what-sift-exposes]

* **Account metadata** — handle, follower count, post count, niche
  classification, engagement rate.
* **Posts** — paginated, recent-first, with permanent media URLs,
  captions, and metrics.
* **Per-post metrics** — refreshed on demand, snapshotted regularly.

## How Layers uses SIFT [#how-layers-uses-sift]

1. **Discovery search** — search creators by niche, platform, follower
   range, engagement.
2. **Post sync** — for external (non-OAuth) social accounts, Layers
   fetches the 50 most recent posts via SIFT on every sync cycle (every
   30 minutes).
3. **Post storage** — posts are stored in `platform_posts` and
   refreshed on every sync.
4. **Media URL stability** — SIFT serves media from permanent storage.
   Instagram CDN URLs are ephemeral; Layers always prefers the permanent
   URL.

## Where to use it [#where-to-use-it]

**UGC → Discovery**:

* Search by niche, platform, follower count, geo, language.
* Save searches to get notified when matching creators appear.
* Add creators to your allowlist directly from search results.

**UGC → Posts**:

* Browse synced posts.
* See per-post metrics.
* Score and approve for ad eligibility.

## Privacy & data [#privacy--data]

SIFT stores publicly-visible data only — public profiles, public posts,
public metrics. Private accounts are not indexed.

What Layers receives from SIFT:

* Public account metadata.
* Public post content + media URLs.
* Engagement counts.

What Layers does NOT receive:

* Private follower lists.
* DM contents.
* Private profile content.
* Email / phone / off-platform contact (you obtain those through your
  own outreach or via SideShift's program).

See [Sub-processors](/docs/trust/subprocessors) and
[AI/LLM data handling](/docs/trust/ai-llm).