Third-party programs have been purposefully blocked from using the Twitter API, the social network confirmed. Without access to the core code Tweetbot, Twitterrific, Birdie, Echofon and other popular clients will not be able to function.
The Twitter Dev account said the social network is “applying its long-standing API rules,” a change that could cause some apps to not work.
Twitter is strengthening its long-standing API rules. It may not work in some apps.
— Twitter Dev (@TwitterDev) January 17, 2023
No information was provided on what policies the blocked customers violated, and this is the first time Twitter has commented on the third-party app outages that began last Thursday. Before that, it was believed that their cause could be an error.
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Since Twitter refused to comment on the situation for several days, it was understood that this was a deliberate decision. The Information reported that in an internal Slack channel, a senior Twitter software engineer explained that the “suspension” was done on purpose, suggesting that many employees were not even aware of what was happening.
The developers of Iconfactory and Tapbots (responsible for Twitterrific and Tweetbot respectively) were not notified of the shutdown and did not provide information about why their programs stopped working.
Twitter’s third-party apps have been successful for years, and it’s unclear whether they will regain access to the API after the changes. Founded over 10 years ago, Tweetbot has a large user base, development teams, and large investments.
MacStories called Twitter’s actions “disgraceful” and “unprofessional” and that the social network showed a “total lack of respect” for the role third-party apps played in its success.
Tapbots is currently ramping up development of Ivory, its Mastodon social network app, and Twitterrific’s Craig Hockenberry said it will explore the concept of a truly universal timeline that uses open standards.
Source: Macrumors
