> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.tella.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Publish to social media with the API or MCP

> AI assistants connected to the Tella MCP server, and scripts using the public API, can publish your videos to YouTube, YouTube Shorts, LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook through your connected accounts. TikTok is app-only.

AI assistants connected to the [Tella MCP server](/docs/help/integrations/mcp-server) and scripts using the [public API](/docs/help/integrations/public-api-and-webhooks) can publish your videos to YouTube, YouTube Shorts, LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook through the accounts you've connected in Tella. TikTok can only be published from the Tella app.

## What you need first

* **A connected account.** Connect the platform in Tella under **Settings** → **Connections**. The API and MCP can't connect one for you. See [Connect your social accounts](/docs/help/integrations/connect-social-accounts).
* **Edit access to the video.**
* **A finished export.** Publishing uploads an export of the video. Ask your assistant to export the video first, or start one with the API, using the size, frame rate, speed and subtitles you want to post.

## Publish from an AI assistant

Ask your assistant in plain language, for example:

* "Export my latest video and post it to LinkedIn for my connections, with a two-line summary as the text."
* "Publish 'Launch day' to YouTube as unlisted, with a description written from the transcript."
* "Did my X post of the product demo go through? Send me the link."

The assistant uses two tools: `publish_to_social` to start a publish, and `list_social_publications` to check on it and get the post's link. Because a post is public and under your name, a well-behaved assistant confirms the platform, text and audience with you before publishing.

The editor's own agent doesn't publish: it can edit your video, but posting stays your call.

Unlike the **Publish** tab, the API and MCP don't add your chapters to a YouTube description for you. An assistant can read the chapters and write them into the description itself.

## Which audience does the API or MCP use?

If you don't say, Tella picks the most private option the platform offers: **Private** on YouTube, **Connections only** on LinkedIn, and **Only people who manage the Page** on Facebook. X, Instagram and stories are always public. This is the opposite of the **Publish** tab, which starts on the most public option.

## Which Facebook Page and Instagram account does it post to?

Your defaults from **Settings** → **Connections** → **Facebook**. If you haven't set one, Tella posts to the first Page or Instagram account the Facebook connection lists, so set your defaults first if you manage more than one.

## Can the API or MCP post to TikTok?

No. TikTok requires the creator to choose the audience and interactions and to accept its terms on a form in the app, so TikTok is only available in **Share** → **Publish**. The API and MCP do list TikTok posts you made in the app.

## Build it with the public API

`POST /v1/videos/{id}/publish` starts a publish and `GET /v1/videos/{id}/publish` lists the latest publish to each platform. Tella records the result automatically, even if your script or assistant stops checking. Poll the GET endpoint or call `list_social_publications` to retrieve the status and, once publishing succeeds, the post's link.

The [API reference](https://www.tella.com/docs) has the full request and response, and the [MCP tools reference](https://www.tella.com/docs/mcp-tools/social-publishing) documents both tools.

Social publishing is included on every plan with API and MCP access, like the rest of the API.


## Related topics

- [Publish a video to social media](/docs/help/sharing/publish-to-social-media.md)
- [Tella MCP Server](/docs/help/integrations/mcp-server.md)
- [Social publishing](/docs/mcp-tools/social-publishing.md)
- [Connect your social accounts](/docs/help/integrations/connect-social-accounts.md)
- [List social publications](/docs/api-reference/videos/list-social-publications.md)