Twitter quietly updates its developer agreement with a clause banning third-party clients, after claiming the company was “enforcing long-standing API rules”

In case there was any doubt about Twitter's intentions in cutting off the developers of third-party apps …

Engadget 2023-01-20 Karissa Bell

Context & Ripple Effects

Twitter’s initial claim that it was enforcing long-standing API rules left affected third-party apps without a stated violation. The new developer-agreement language turns that ambiguous enforcement into an explicit restriction.

It also reverses the direction of Twitter’s v2 API rollout, which had given third-party apps more freedom, and extends a longer history of reshaping developer access after ending legacy API support.

First-order effects

Third-party client developers lose a contractual basis to operate their apps through Twitter’s API, while Twitter gains clearer authority to block them.
Users of those clients are pushed toward Twitter’s own product rather than alternative interfaces built on the platform.

Second-order effects

Developers considering Twitter API products must distinguish between permitted integrations and client experiences, narrowing the practical scope of the platform’s developer ecosystem.
The abrupt shift from an unspecified enforcement action to a written ban weakens the continuity implied by Twitter’s earlier v2 API openness for developers whose products depend on stable access.

Third-order effects

Twitter is moving API governance from feature-based access rules toward tighter control over which businesses may mediate its user experience.
If this pattern persists, social platforms’ developer programs will function less as open distribution channels and more as selective partnerships governed by contractual limits.

The trend: Major platforms are tightening API terms to retain control of the end-user interface and the businesses built around it.

Discussion

Twitter, Inc. Twitter, Inc. on x
Developer Agreement — This Twitter Developer Agreement ("Agreement") is made between you …
@dangillmor@mastodon.social Dan Gillmor on mastodon
So, finally, Musk's minions have acknowledged why they locked out third-party Twitter clients: The purpose is to force users onto Twitter's own website and apps. — Remember, they lied earlier to justify killing off the competition, claiming violations of the rules. …
@Sarahp@mastodon.social Sarah Perez on mastodon
Cannot believe these apps survived the chaos that has been twitter's API and changing policies over the years only to die by the whims of a reckless billionaire https://blog.iconfactory.com/ ...
@marcoarment@mastodon.social Marco Arment on mastodon
Cannot reiterate this enough: — PLEASE don't request refunds from Apple for any unused time on your Twitterrific or Tweetbot subscriptions. — It could literally bankrupt small shops like these. …
@Verso@mastodon.social Kelly Guimont on mastodon
Well shit. I went looking for my first article at TUAW, about Twitterrific 2. Not only can I not find it, I got a mix of articles about the end of 3rd party apps and of TUAW itself. Now I'm more sad. …
@siracusa@mastodon.social John Siracusa on mastodon
Twitterrific is probably the app I've used the most in the past 16 years. I've never read Twitter without it. 🫡 https://blog.iconfactory.com/ ...
@ianfogg@mastodon.social Ian Fogg on mastodon
Not sad about the end of 3rd party apps on Twitter because they have been 2nd class citizens for years & their pace of innovation had stalled pre-Musk. …
@viticci@mastodon.macstories.net Federico Viticci on mastodon
What a time to love indie apps. Third-party Mastodon clients are bringing back a sense of curiosity and excitement I hadn't felt since the heyday of Twitter clients in 2009-2011. — What am I missing? …
@BasicAppleGuy@mastodon.social BasicAppleGuy on mastodon
🕯️ — The apps are gone, but the developers are not! I'm sad to see apps that delighted so many people and shaped Twitter killed without a shred of dignity. …
@bigzaphod@mastodon.social Sean Heber on mastodon
Twitterrific has been discontinued. 🫡 Goodnight, sweet bluebird. https://blog.iconfactory.com/ ...
@twitterrific @twitterrific on x
Today marks the end of an era. Sadly, we've been forced to pull Twitterrific from both the iOS and Mac App Stores. Twitter's unexplained revocation of our API access has left the app with no path forward. Please read our blog for more information🖖 https://blog.iconfactory.com/ ..…
@twitterrific @twitterrific on x
As of this afternoon, Twitterrific for Mac has been suspended from Twitter without explanation.
@sdw Sebastiaan de With on x
I owe a huge debt to @Twitterrific and @Tapbots — Twitter clients that first invited me to get on the platform. Without exaggeration, it shaped my life and career and I can say that I wouldn't be where I am today without it. How sad that it came to this. https://blog.iconfactory.…
@mayazi Maya Parody on x
It's amazing that Musk, faced with an existential opportunity as ad revenues falls to innovate & push Twitter towards an open API for devs to build on, chooses the path of more gates... It's like a mirror decision of Jack's extreme decentralization plan https://twitter.com/...
@albertwenger Albert Wenger on x
With a monthly subscription for API access third party clients could have been a revenue source for Twitter https://twitter.com/...
@producthunt @producthunt on x
RIP Tweetbot, Twitterific, and more. Twitter has finally broken the silence on third party apps being cut off from their API. https://twitter.com/...
@karissabe Karissa Bell on x
In case there was any doubt: Twitter quietly updated its developer terms today with language banning “substitute or similar” services (ie: third-party clients). My understanding is this still has not been communicated to developers https://www.engadget.com/...
@talonandroid @talonandroid on x
Twitter has clarified their position. From this point on, apps that attempt to recreate the Twitter experience will not be allowed to access Twitter services. Unfortunately, this ultimately means that Talon will cease to work. https://www.theverge.com/...
@adders Adam Tinworth on x
It's official. Third party Twitter apps are dead. Not a surprise given the events of the last week — but still a spectacularly shitty way to treat developers, some of whom have been working with you for 15 years. https://9to5google.com/...
@troyhunt Troy Hunt on x
Well, I guess that's it. Epic comment though: “I guess I didn't realise long standing actually means a couple of hours ago” https://www.theverge.com/...
@chrismessina @chrismessina on x
RIP the @TwitterDev platform for third party apps; RIP @Twitterrific; RIP @typefully (I assume); RIP developer trust forever. They should edit this Dec 16, 2022 tweet: “Our goal is as important as ever: to ensure our entire ecosystem's [failure].” https://twitter.com/... https://…
@ow Owen Williams on x
i didn't think twitter could torch its developer platform any harder than it already had for the last decade but this is just impressive at this point https://www.engadget.com/...
@ianhamilton_ Ian Hamilton on x
I know many blind people who rely (relied) on third party clients because they are more accessible. #accessibility https://twitter.com/...
@alex193a Alessandro Paluzzi on x
What a weird concept of freedom 😐 https://twitter.com/...
@qwik Mike Ybarra on x
This is really a downer. I'd guess it's driven by ad surface area. But other solutions exist vs. zero communication to smaller devs making great apps. https://twitter.com/...
@martinsfp @martinsfp on x
Twitter officially bans third-party clients in new developer agreement 🤮 The messaging around this has been appalling and massively disrespectful to a dedicated community of developers. https://9to5google.com/...
@gcluley @gcluley on x
So there you go. Sounds like it's official. Anyone making a third-party Twitter app might be wise to switch their efforts into making a Mastodon app instead. https://www.engadget.com/...
@filipeesposito @filipeesposito on x
Congrats to the owner of this social network for shutting down entire companies today 👏🏻 https://blog.iconfactory.com/ ...
@gcluley @gcluley on x
Sad news. Twitterrific for iOS and macOS have now been removed from both App Stores. Elon Musk, who may in time very well be killing Twitter, is taking third-party clients down with him... https://blog.iconfactory.com/ ...
@karissabe Karissa Bell on x
I remember when Jack first came back and went to Flight and apologized to developers only to.. not really do anything for them for years?
@lanceulanoff Lance Ulanoff on x
I don't see how this is a good move for Twitter. Working with third-party clients and devs only extends Twitter's reach and attracts more users. It's a lesson Microsoft learned with Windows and Office. Less control and more screens are always preferable to fewer platform options …
@paulobrien Paul O'Brien on x
Quite entitled to do this, but what a ridiculously amateur way to do it. Certainly makes one reconsider who is a business genius eh. https://twitter.com/...
@film_girl Christina Warren on x
Sixteen years is a hell of a run but I hate that it bad to end like this. https://blog.iconfactory.com/ ... huge love to everyone at @Iconfactory and thanks for all the memories
@ow Owen Williams on x
rip twitterrific (and every other twitter app developer). you all LITERALLY invented more features than twitter the company ever did 🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡 https://t.co/QioC8t0ZXI
@firstadopter Tae Kim on x
I've been an avid Fenix user and loved it because it kept my place in reading posts. Terrible news. I will miss reading many tweets now, plus this zero sum thinking is a very bad sign for what is to come for TweetDeck. https://twitter.com/...
@logophobe @logophobe on x
Lol so now they've nuked everything but the official Twitter app? Starting to smell like they're *trying* to kill off the site https://twitter.com/...
@mkbhd Marques Brownlee on x
RIP Tweetbot RIP Flamingo RIP many of my favorite apps 🪦 https://twitter.com/...

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