Frequent users of Twitter’s third-party apps are currently facing issues logging in and accessing feeds. Three popular ones – Tweetbot, Echofon, and Twitterrific – have reported unusual glitches but are unaware of the trigger behind them.
Quick Facts
- Third-party apps like Tweetbot, Echofon, and Twitterific are not functioning properly due to identified glitches in the systems
- The concerned app makers have additionally reported such issues on Mastadon
- The issue, which started at 7:30 pm PT on Friday, has caused failure in API requests from the apps
The alarming breakdown has been termed as Twitter killing third-party apps by Twitterrific developer Sean Heber while Tweetbot’s Paul Hadad seems concerned about the news.
“I’m hoping whatever is going on at Twitter is just some automated spam protection bot that is incorrectly suspending proper apps,” he shared. Some users have reported seeing error messages regarding the Twitter API on these apps.
“We’re aware that Twitterrific is having problems communicating with Twitter. We don’t yet know what the root cause is, but we’re trying to find out. Please stay tuned and apologies,” shared Twitterific.
Twitter’s assassination of third-party apps
Why is Twitter’s third-party system collapsing? The microblogging site introduced some changes to its API that have seemingly caused the apps to shut down. It is not known whether the move is intended to block access to the platform.
Furthermore, users from other apps like Fenix, Feather, Twitpane, and Talon have also complained about losing access to Twitter. The only way to use the site is through the website or the official client.
Elon Musk’s Twitter acquisition has been a nightmare for third-party developers who are treading cautiously about their development plans due to uncertainty about the kind of ecosystem Twitter wants in the future.
Many developer programs (such as Twitter Toolbox) have shut down leading to a lack of transparency between the platform’s new management and third-party developers. Last month, Amir Shevat, the company’s former head of developer platforms revealed that the developers don’t trust the company anymore.
Although Twitter has not spoken on the matter, the TwitterDev account revealed that the company “will continue to invest in our Developer Platform, especially our Twitter API.” The platform’s developer forum shared that Twitter’s third-party apps appear as “suspended” on the developer portal.
What are third-party apps?
Third-party apps are built by external developers around an app. These clients then connect to Twitter accounts through the platform’s API. Due to new changes in the API, these third-party clients might have lost access to Twitter.
Users of these apps cannot see their timelines or share tweets using affected apps like Tweetbot, Twitterrific, and Aviary. Twitter has not shed light on the situation that has affected activity on the app across all platforms – iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows.
Developers of these apps have always dreaded the possibility of Twitter seizing their access to its public API. With its absence, developers are clueless about what’s next.
Interestingly, some iOS users prefer using other apps for using Twitter rather than the platform itself which means the news has disappointed many users.
It is hoped that the observed glitch is only an outage and that the Twitter API will continue to serve its third-party clients. However, Musk’s hardcore company regime makes that possibility seem counter-intuitive.
Some of the new policy introduced by Musk and his management team after his $44 billion takeover late last year has seen Twitter’s transformation from a user-friendly app to a money-making machine.
As a result, some users have started to boycott the app, and the federated social network Mastodon is proving to be a preferred alternative for people. Excluding third-party apps could therefore drive users further away from the app.
