Honestly a very confusing move for Twitter, third party client users are probably the easiest to monetize users that Twitter has. They have already demonstrated that they get enough value out of the service to go out of their way to use a different client, potentially one that they pay for. Make them pay some monthly fee and everyone is happy?
Tweetbot. April 2011 – January 2023
161–170 of 427 posts
Re: Tweetbot. April 2011 – January 2023
#162I don't think they realise the damage this change has done. I have been on board with or ambivalent about most of the changes. I don't care if there's less moderation, I think Twitter probably did have too many employees, and I like the idea of a paid account with fewer (preferably no) ads. I'd even have happily paid Twitter to continue using Tweetbot. But this has destroyed the trust and the user experience of many…
> I'd even have happily paid Twitter to continue using Tweetbot. I had thought since they first started locking down 3rd party apps years ago that if/when they ever had a "Twitter Pro" or whatever, that allowing subscribed users to use a third party app would be part of it. After all, lots of online service subs eliminate ads in the product, so why not Twitter? I assumed rational thinking on their part, I suppose.
> After all, lots of online service subs eliminate ads in the product, so why not Twitter?
Lots of online service subs are eliminating the ad-free thing now, because they know they can prove more value of paying users to their advertisers. I don't think the NY Times subscription was ever ad-free, and many publishers are now removing that perk.
But I agree with you. I would've paid for Twitter Blue if it were completely ad-free. This is the main value of YouTube Premium to me.
Re: Tweetbot. April 2011 – January 2023
#163I just don't see the replacement for Twitter as Mastodon -- which it seems the Tweetbot people are targeting. Twitter will likely file for bankruptcy later this year due to the debt burden. However, the replacement for Twitter won't be a Twitter "clone." Things will move on. I'm not smart enough to know what people will move on to... But they will move on.
Is there a specific reason you think it won’t be Mastodon?
Hi ABM. Good question. Here is my perspective (I could always be wrong).
I listen to a number of news podcasts and they still tell people where to find the hosts on Twitter. I have yet to hear someone tell people how to find the author on Mastodon. Never.
News personalities are the bread and butter of Twitter. They are normies (compared to most of us).
Mastodon had its five minutes of fame when Elon started making changes. I was quietly rooting for it, but I think it will be tough.
That's why I don't think Mastodon is going to replace Twitter anytime soon.
Re: Tweetbot. April 2011 – January 2023
#164Was there anything stopping Twitter from charging 3rd party clients and their users for access to the API?
Charging at a rate that makes up the missing revenue from user tracking/ads would kill these 3rd party apps anyways, and I'm not sure if Twitter still has enough of the right people remaining to figure out all that to begin with.
Re: Tweetbot. April 2011 – January 2023
#165Earlier quoted context omitted.
"Don't criticize if you can't do better," is never a good take.
That's not the point at all. Regarding the personal attack - is Zuckerberg also a "bizarre, fragile, little man" since Instagram doesn't allow 3rd party clients? Regarding the validity of this move by Twitter - a private company is making changes which they believe are in line with their business goals. Who cares? Why get so riled up about it?
>... a private company is making changes which they believe are in line with their business goals. Who cares? Why get so riled up about it?
Someone you don't know doesn't like a move that a private company made, or it's CEO. Who cares? Why get so riled up about it?
Re: Tweetbot. April 2011 – January 2023
#166Earlier quoted context omitted.
I also do not think Musk understands just who the primary userbase on many of these 3rd party apps were -- many of those pesky advertisers/brands that he seems to be both courting and at war with exclusively use api apps for tracking posting/responding and integrations.
Those aren't the same APIs that were turned off for third party clients though, correct?
My understanding is they didn't turn off the APIs, they disabled API keys for any large clients
Re: Tweetbot. April 2011 – January 2023
#167I don't think they realise the damage this change has done. I have been on board with or ambivalent about most of the changes. I don't care if there's less moderation, I think Twitter probably did have too many employees, and I like the idea of a paid account with fewer (preferably no) ads. I'd even have happily paid Twitter to continue using Tweetbot. But this has destroyed the trust and the user experience of many…
Sidenote, as an Ivory user i'm quite pleased with it. Getting an invite can be a bit challenging, currently. Following @ivory@tapbots.social for invites is how i got mine, fwiw. edit : https://tapbots.social/@ivory/109683219720510229 though it seems they intend to get Ivory out ASAP due to how this decision has impacted their business. So maybe waiting for Invites won't be needed for long
No more invites. Their TestFlight allocation is full.
Re: Tweetbot. April 2011 – January 2023
#168Won't this hurt Elon in the long run? I was never able to stand the official Twitter app it's filled with ads and irrelevant clutter. I think since moving to Android Tweetbot is one of the few apps I miss from having on my phone. I was still enjoying the Mac version. I guess I will stick to Nitter [0] from now on. [0] - https://nitter.net/
> filled with ads and irrelevant clutter.
I always assumed the third party clients just provided a better interface. I didn't realize they circumvented the income stream.
If the third party clients were removing the means of monetization, for a company who struggles to profit, then it seems obvious that requiring paid access on its way, regardless of the owner. Twitter can't go forever at a loss.
The "surprise" is surprising.
Re: Tweetbot. April 2011 – January 2023
#169Earlier quoted context omitted.
Interesting, do instgram and facebook etc allow third party clients?
One of the tools used is Buffer [0], and they seem to support both Instagram and Facebook, and it seems that they are going to continue with Twitter as well. [0]: https://buffer.com Note: They seem to support "Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Google Business Profile"
Buffer's not a third-party client (in the sense of Tweetbot etc.), though.
You can't consume or publish to a personal Facebook profile or an individual Instagram account; it's restricted to Facebook Business Pages, Groups, and Instagram Business accounts.
It does compete with the Meta Business Suite, though.
Re: Tweetbot. April 2011 – January 2023
#170Earlier quoted context omitted.
Interesting, do instgram and facebook etc allow third party clients?
One of the tools used is Buffer [0], and they seem to support both Instagram and Facebook, and it seems that they are going to continue with Twitter as well. [0]: https://buffer.com Note: They seem to support "Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Google Business Profile"
Buffer's support for non-business Instagram is "set a reminder for you to post by hand" because Instagram removed scheduled posting ability a good long while back. I suspect their non-business Facebook support is similar.
I know I was a heavy user until (uh) 5? years ago when Instagram and Facebook posting was nerfed into uselessness.