Using Kotlin

How to Scrape Reddit Search Ads with Kotlin

Search Reddit ads by keyword using Kotlin. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process, from setup to implementation.

Overview

What You'll Learn

  • Setting up your Kotlin environment
  • Installing the required HTTP client
  • Authenticating with SociaVault API
  • Making requests to Reddit
  • Handling responses and errors

What You'll Get

  • Access to ads search data
  • JSON formatted responses
  • Real-time data access
  • Scalable solution
  • Error handling patterns

Prerequisites

1. API Key

First, you'll need a SociaVault API key to authenticate your requests.

2. Development Environment

Make sure you have the following installed:

  • Kotlin installed
  • A code editor (VS Code, Sublime, etc.)
  • Command line interface access

Implementation

Step 1: Install HTTP Client

We'll use OkHttp to make HTTP requests.

bash
implementation("com.squareup.okhttp3:okhttp:4.10.0")

Step 2: API Implementation

Now let's make a request to the Reddit API using Kotlin. Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your actual API key.

kotlin
import okhttp3.OkHttpClient
import okhttp3.Request

fun main() {
    val client = OkHttpClient()
    val request = Request.Builder()
        .url("https://api.sociavault.com/reddit/ads/search?query=gaming")
        .addHeader("x-api-key", "YOUR_API_KEY")
        .addHeader("Content-Type", "application/json")
        .build()

    client.newCall(request).execute().use { response ->
        println(response.body?.string())
    }
}

Testing Your Code

API Parameters

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
querystringYesExample: gaming

Expected Response

You should receive a structured JSON response containing the ads search data.

json
{
  "success": true,
  "ads": [
    {
      "id": "79e005f1e09ec72245e904d87d2a0869",
      "budget_category": "HIGH",
      "industry": "OTHER",
      "placements": [
        "FEED"
      ],
      "objective": "CONVERSIONS",
      "creative": {
        "id": "t3_1cdt7o6",
        "type": "TEXT",
        "content": [
          {
            "display_url": "self.thepennyhoarder"
          }
        ],
        "headline": "What is a rich person’s money tip you wish you knew sooner?",
        "body": "Life would be a whole lot easier if someone would just Venmo us $1 million, but unfortunately the chance of that happening is, well, probably zero. (Venmo doesn’t allow transactions that large anyway.)\n\nBut even though our chances of becoming a millionaire are slim, we can still manage our money like one. No, we’re not going to tell you how to buy hundreds of shares of Apple stock. Or how to pick out the perfect yacht.\n\nThese are simple money moves any normal, non-millionaire person can make *today*. Each tip can get you closer to achieving your big goals.\n\nTake a look:\n\n# 1. Cancel Your Car Insurance\n\nYou might not even realize it, but your car insurance company is probably overcharging you. In fact, they’re kind of counting on you not noticing. Luckily, this problem is easy to fix. \n\nDon’t waste your time browsing insurance sites for a better deal. A company called[ **Insurify**](https://t.thepennyhoarder.com/aff_ad?campaign_id=319&aff_id=152&source=money-secrets-prt-reddit&aff_sub3=money-secrets-reddit) shows you all your options at once — people who do this save up to $996 per year. \n\nIf you tell them a bit about yourself and your vehicle, they’ll send you personalized quotes so you can compare them and find the best one for you.\n\nTired of overpaying for car insurance? It takes just five minutes to compare your options with Insurify and[ **see how much you could save on car insurance.**](https://t.thepennyhoarder.com/aff_ad?campaign_id=319&aff_id=152&source=money-secrets-prt-reddit&aff_sub3=money-secrets-reddit)\n\n# 2. Stop Paying Your Credit Card Company\n\nIf you have credit card debt, *you know*. The anxiety, the interest rates, the fear you’re never going to escape…\n\nAnd the truth is, your credit card company doesn’t really care. It’s just getting rich by ripping you off with high interest rates — some up to 36%. But a website called[ **AmOne**](https://t.thepennyhoarder.com/aff_c?offer_id=6370&aff_id=152&source=money-secrets-prt-reddit&aff_sub3=money-secrets-reddit) wants to help.\n\nIf you owe your credit card companies $100,000 or less, AmOne will match you with a low-interest loan you can use to pay off every single one of your balances.\n\nThe benefit? You’ll be left with one bill to pay each month. And because personal loans have lower interest rates (AmOne rates start at 6.40% APR), you’ll get out of debt *that* much faster. Plus: No credit card payment this month.\n\nYou don’t need a perfect credit score to get a loan — and comparing your options won’t affect your score at all. Plus, AmOne keeps your information confidential and secure, which is probably why after 20 years in business, it still has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.\n\nIt takes less than a minute and just 10 questions to[ **see what loans you qualify for**](https://t.thepennyhoarder.com/aff_c?offer_id=6370&aff_id=152&source=money-secrets-prt-reddit&aff_sub3=money-secrets-reddit) — you don’t even need to enter your Social Security number. You do need to give AmOne a real phone number in order to qualify, but don’t worry — they won’t spam you with phone calls.\n\n# 3. You Can Become a Real Estate Investor for as Little as $10\n\nTake a look at some of the world’s wealthiest people. What do they have in common? Many invest in large private real estate deals. And here’s the thing: There’s no reason you can’t, too — for as little as $10. \n\n[**An investment called the Fundrise Flagship Fund**](https://t.thepennyhoarder.com/aff_c?offer_id=7384&aff_id=152&source=millionaires-sdyn-prt&aff_sub3=money-secrets-reddit) lets you get started in the world of real estate by giving you access to a low-cost, diversified portfolio of private real estate. The best part? You don’t have to be the landlord. The Flagship Fund does all the heavy lifting.\n\nWith an initial investment as low as $10, your money will be invested in the Fund, which already owns more than $1 billion worth of real estate around the country, from apartment complexes to the thriving housing rental market to larger last-mile e-commerce logistics centers.\n\nWant to invest more? Many investors choose to invest $1,000 or more. This is a Fund that can fit any type of investor’s needs. Once invested, you can track your performance from your phone and watch as properties are acquired, improved, and operated. As properties generate cash flow, you could earn money through quarterly dividend payments. And over time, you could earn money off the potential appreciation of the properties. \n\nSo if you want to get started in the world of real-estate investing, it takes just a few minutes to [**sign up and create an account with the Fundrise Flagship Fund**](http://t.thepennyhoarder.com/aff_c?offer_id=7384&aff_id=152&source=millionaires-sdyn-prt&aff_sub3=money-secrets-reddit).\n\n# 4. Get One Month of Free High-Speed Internet (and Pay as Little as $40/Month After That)\n\nThere are some bills you just can’t avoid. For most of us, that includes our internet bill. Your provider knows it’s pretty hard to go without it these days — that’s why so many of us are overpaying. \n\nBut with[ Metro by T-Mobile](https://t.thepennyhoarder.com/aff_c?offer_id=7522&aff_id=152&source=money-secrets-prt-reddit&aff_sub3=money-secrets-reddit), you can get high-speed, 5G home internet for as little as \\*$40 a month. No credit check, no deposit, and they won’t lock you into a contract that hikes up your price after your first year, either. \n\nYou’re probably thinking there’s some catch, but they’ll let you try it out for 14 days to see if you like it. If not, you’ll get your money back. You don’t even have to worry about breaking up with your current provider — T-Mobile will pay up to $750 in termination fees.\n\nEven better? When you switch now, get one month free after the rebate and purchase your equipment for just $24.99 (usually $49.99).\n\nSwitch to Metro by T-Mobile and get 5G Home Internet from Metro for $40/mo with AutoPay. Just[ enter your address and phone number here](https://t.thepennyhoarder.com/aff_c?offer_id=7522&aff_id=152&source=money-secrets-prt-reddit&aff_sub3=money-secrets-reddit) to see if you qualify.\n\n# 5. Get Paid $225/Month While Watching Movie Previews\n\n# If we told you that you could get paid while watching videos on your computer, you’d probably laugh.\n\nIt’s too good to be true, right?\n\nBut we’re serious. By signing up for a free account with[ **InboxDollars**](https://t.thepennyhoarder.com/aff_c?offer_id=3421&aff_id=152&source=money-secrets-prt-reddit&aff_sub3=money-secrets-reddit), you could add up to $225 a month to your pocket. They’ll send you short surveys every day, which you can fill out while you watch someone bake brownies or catch up on the latest Kardashian drama.\n\nNo, InboxDollars won’t replace your full-time job, but it’s something easy you can do while you’re already on the couch tonight, wasting time on your phone.\n\nUnlike other sites, InboxDollars pays you in cash — no points or gift cards. It’s already paid its users more than $56 million.\n\nSigning up takes about one minute, and you’ll immediately receive[ **a $5 bonus**](https://t.thepennyhoarder.com/aff_c?offer_id=3421&aff_id=152&source=money-secrets-prt-reddit&aff_sub3=money-secrets-reddit) to get you started.\n\n# 6. Killing Time? Earn up to $107 Per Win Playing Solitaire on Your Phone\n\nThere’s nothing wrong with killing a little free time on your phone. A lot of us pull up a mobile game on our break, on the couch or on long drives. But we found a game that will actually pay you to do it.\n\n[**A free iPhone app called Solitaire Smash**](https://t.thepennyhoarder.com/aff_ad?campaign_id=304&aff_id=152&source=money-secrets-prt-reddit&aff_sub3=money-secrets-reddit) will pay you up to $107 per win just for playing Solitaire online. Right now, when you add $10 to your account, Solitaire Smash will give you a $5 bonus to use in cash tournaments plus 1,000 gems.\n\nIt works just like the card game you already know, but it adds a timer to mix, and you’ll play against other players at your same skill level. The top three players win a prize. You can play casually for gems or compete for real money prize pools — up to $107 per win. Plus, they have a 4.9 star rating on the App Store.\n\nWant to see if you can turn $10 to $107 in your free time? Just download Solitaire Smash to get [**start playing and see how much money you can win**](https://t.thepennyhoarder.com/aff_ad?campaign_id=304&aff_id=152&source=money-secrets-prt-reddit&aff_sub3=money-secrets-reddit).",
        "thumbnail_url": "https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/9gzdjvf9fDu1vN2zxxVrvGqOJizhLf80W701zzkml2k.jpg",
        "allow_comments": false,
        "created_at": "2024-04-26T18:47:57+00:00",
        "profile_id": "t2_3usby",
        "post_url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/u_thepennyhoarder/comments/1cdt7o6/what_is_a_rich_persons_money_tip_you_wish_you/"
      },
      "profile_info": {
        "name": "u_thepennyhoarder",
        "snoovatar_icon_url": "https://www.redditstatic.com/avatars/defaults/v2/avatar_default_6.png"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Best Practices

Error Handling

Implement comprehensive error handling and retry logic for failed requests. Log errors properly for debugging.

Caching

Cache responses when possible to reduce API calls and improve performance. Consider data freshness requirements.

Security

Never expose your API key in client-side code. Use environment variables and secure key management practices.

Troubleshooting

401

Unauthorized

Check your API key is correct and properly formatted in the x-api-key header.

402

Payment Required

You ran out of credits and need to buy more.

404

Not Found

The resource (user, video, etc.) might not exist or be private.

429

Too Many Requests

You have exceeded your rate limit. Slow down your requests.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to scrape Reddit?

SociaVault offers 50 free API calls to get started. After that, pricing starts at $10 for 5k requests with volume discounts available.

Is it legal to scrape Reddit data?

Scraping publicly available data is generally considered legal. We only collect public data that is accessible without logging in.

How fast can I scrape Reddit?

Our API handles the rate limiting for you. You can make requests as fast as your plan allows.

What data format does the API return?

All API responses are returned in JSON format, making it easy to integrate with any programming language or application.

Related Tutorials

Ready to Start Scraping?

Get started with 50 free API calls. No credit card required. Stop worrying about proxies and captchas.