Twitter has released a statement on its decision to cut off API access for several third-party applications. According to Twitter, the providers had violated API rules.
In a tweet, the social media firm indicates that it’s enforcing “long-standing” API rules. As a result, some apps were cut off. The specifics of these “long-standing” API rules are unclear. Twitter has not responded to further questions at the time of writing.
The Twitter API documentation provides little clarity, Ars Technica reports. The documentation is extensive and contains many rules that depend on various factors.
Twitter API access
Several third-party Twitter applications were recently shut down. The applications had a so-called ‘firehose’ API connection to the social media platform. This connection makes it possible to send and receive Twitter messages in a third-party app.
The move affected Twitterrific and Tweetbot. Both apps initially restored their connection through a workaround, but were disconnected once more at a later stage.
Ad revenue
Although Twitter claims the disconnections were due to API violations, analysts are divided on the firm’s motives. Leaked internal messages suggest API access was intentionally cut off due to the apps generating insufficient ad revenue for Twitter.
It’s worth mentioning that Twitter’s API development and support teams were fired in early November 2022, after the organization was acquired by Elon Musk.
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