Seeing that Instagram has started focusing on slimming down its Application Program Interface, third-apps that once fed on Instagram feeds will be left out to starve. This exclusion to access is part of Instagram’s efforts to preserve the quality of its ecosystem.
- Instagram will undergo a purge for third-party apps with API access
- The photo and video sharing platform announced new and old developers will have to submit apps for review
- Reviewing the apps’ value for Instagram starts December 3 for new partners
- Third-party apps that already have API access have until June 1, 2016 to submit for review
As it was explained in the blog post announcement, the platform changes around which apps will maintain their access to Instagram’s API are designed to “set up a more sustainable environment built around authentic experiences on the platform.”
Basically, this means that a lot of the third-party apps that publish photos and videos to Instagram – such as Retro, Flow, Priime, or EyeEm – may find they are no longer granted access. However, the Facebook-owned platform will undergo a process of evaluating their contribution to its community before any changes are made.
Instagram’s API opened four years ago to the whole world, and it has now become a great media and marketing powerhouse. Therefore, it’s only natural the platform wants to be pickier about the services it works with, preferring the certified marketing providers over the unknowns and wannabes.
New developers that want to partner with Instagram will have to submit their apps for review starting December 3 before gaining access to its API. Those apps that already have access will have to do the same until June 1, 2016.
Instagram will also provide a Sandbox Mode for the duration of the reviewing process, so developers will still be able to proceed on schedule if their app gets the green light. Apps that let users print photos or use the Instagram photo as profile picture on another platform are the ones with the highest chances of passing.
Some critics of the move say restricting access like this is only going to harm the platform, just like Twitter alienated its developer community, but Facebook has always been straightforward about its intentions to prioritize the user experience.
Instagram’s platform changes are ultimately designed to give approved developers more space and users more control over the content they create. It also means cutting off malicious apps that collect usernames and passwords for their own purposes.
Image Source: PetaPixel
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