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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: 5
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