Twitter’s recent decision to shut off its free API access has resulted in widespread app and website breakdowns, leaving many developers scrambling to find solutions. The move was initially announced in early February, but Twitter later delayed the cutoff without providing a revised timeline. However, after unveiling its new paid API tiers last week, the company seems to have started cutting off access for developers relying on its free developer tools.
Over the past few days, numerous app makers and services have reported that the Twitter API is no longer functioning. Although the shutoff appears to have started on Tuesday morning, many developers are still trying to understand the situation, as Twitter has not communicated with most of them about the changes.
The termination of Twitter’s free API comes after the company abruptly banned third-party Twitter clients as part of a larger overhaul of its developer strategy. However, third-party clients were just a small portion of the developers, researchers, bot makers, and others who depended on Twitter’s APIs.
