Twitter has apparently taken off API access for a number of third-party applications, including Tweetbot and Twitterrific, in a fresh attempt to force users back to Twitter.
Last Thursday, Twitter’s APIs were turned off without notice, making several programmes useless. This was first thought to be a Twitter mistake. On Saturday, The Information revealed that internal Twitter discussions showed this was an intentional suspension.
Twitter hasn’t revealed more.
Twitter’s actions have been called unprofessional and “an unrecoverable breach of trust between it and its developers and users” by the development community Twitter’s conduct isn’t unprecedented. Twitter banned all connections to other social networks last month to stop free marketing for its competitors in the app. After widespread criticism of the upgrade, Twitter reversed the decision within hours, but Elon Musk’s reasoning shows he doesn’t like other platforms using Twitter. Which also ignores Twitter’s rise from such connection and access.
Cross-linking and developer access help social networks boost use and engagement, while third-party applications typically connect people in various countries and conditions. Twitter has had a tumultuous relationship with developers, blocking and re-enabling API access over time, which former CEO Jack Dorsey recognised was a mistake he was trying to fix.
Musk may have shut it down because he views this sort of access as a competitive threat, given he has no background in this area.
Twitter’s new “Verification for Organizations” membership package may bring comparable features to these applications. Twitter is inviting companies to join up for early access to its professional subscription service, which may include advanced capabilities. It’s hard to determine since Twitter’s communications are restricted, and again, it hasn’t engaged with the app developers, who can’t operate their businesses. It might be a mistake. As Elon pursues new methods to monetize Twitter, it might be the start of a greater change.
