Twitter removed from Tumblr friend finder service
It has been revealed that Tumblr is
the latest platform to feel the wrath of Twitter, following the introduction of
their API version 1.1.
Reports have detailed that Tumblr has
been forced to cut Twitter from their friend-finding service, leaving users
with only Gmail and Facebook to deal with. The news, which has been confirmed
by both sites, indicates that Twitter is taking increasing steps to implement
its ‘stricter
API rules’. It has been noted that these rules have the potential to ‘negatively
impact third-party app developers’, and quite clearly this is being
demonstrated. The API 1.1 has already
created quite a stir in the social media world and has displayed the ruthless
nature of the micro-blogging site.
Tumblr were quick to express their
disappointment due to their “history of embracing the platform”. The statement
continued to note how Tumblr were “one of Twitter’s first partners” and that
they were “responsible for hundreds of millions of tweets”.
Other sites to have also fallen
victim to Twitter’s new API rules include Instagram and LinkedIn, and reports
have identified Flipboard as possibly being next in line. These platforms have
followed suit in having their friend-finding services curtailed with the banning
of Twitter from these. The purpose of all this seems to be to stop these sites
from ‘piggybacking
on Twitter's social graph’.
Whilst one can sympathise, to an
extent, with the site’s aim, Twitter have gone about things in a rather brutal
manner. Twitter can be justified in their goal to stop other social networks
getting a ‘leg-up’ after the site has done it ‘the hard way’. However, many of
the sites they are turning their back on have been key to their success. Would
Twitter be in the position it is now were it not for some mutual support? Alex
Masters has posited the idea that the sites affected could quite easily turn
around and do the same thing to Twitter. If Twitter is to continue to close-off
their site, this could perhaps see the removal of the site from such apps as
Spotify, Foursquare and Instagram, eradicating the ability to easily tweet when
using them.
The API 1.1 is sure to have further
knock-on effects for third-party apps in the upcoming months. Counter measures
may be taken by these platforms to limit, or cut, Twitter’s involvement in
their apps. In addition to this, it will be interesting to see how the other
major social networks react. It may spark Facebook into considering a similar
move for example, or prove to be the success of Google+. With the latter, the
site has no need to monetise ‘as it’s funded by advertising revenue from other
services, so there’s no limit to how deeply it can penetrate the web’. Twitter
certainly needs to put a positive spin on proceedings to ensure damage limitation
and maintain good relations.
Josh Bennett, Content Writer
@JoshAtSMF @SocialMediaF
Twitter removed from Tumblr friend finder service
Reviewed by Mili and Paul
on
Friday, August 24, 2012
Rating: