Twitter's API is down?

Article summary

Twitter's API appears to be down, causing issues for third-party clients such as Tweetbot and Twitterrific. Users are experiencing error loops and failed authorization attempts. The cause of the issue is currently unknown, but it may be either a technical outage or a policy change by Twitter's new owner. This has led to speculation about the future of third-party clients on the platform.

Main themes

• Twitter API outage
• third-party clients
• Mastodon alternative
• ad revenue and business models
• consumer protection laws
• social media politics
• platform governance

What commenters say

• The Twitter API outage may be a sign that the new owner is cracking down on third-party clients, potentially to drive users to the official app and increase ad revenue.
• The issue could be a technical glitch rather than a deliberate policy change, and it's too early to tell what's really going on.
• Some users are willing to pay for a third-party client to avoid ads and have a better user experience, which could be a viable business model.
• The move to restrict third-party clients may be part of a broader effort to control the narrative and align Twitter's politics with the owner's own views.
• The decision to limit third-party clients may not be compliant with consumer protection laws in some countries.
• The future of third-party clients on Twitter is uncertain, and some developers are already exploring alternative platforms like Mastodon.
• The outage may be an opportunity for third-party clients to transition to alternative platforms and reduce their dependence on Twitter's API.
• Some users believe that the new owner's goal is to create a right-wing social media platform, which could have significant implications for the online discourse.