Musk says bots with 'good content' can use the Twitter API for free

Photo: Chris J. Davis/Unsplash

Twitter CEO Elon Musk drew backlash over a new decision to require developers to sign up for a "paid basic tier" to access Twitter's API starting on February 9. But it looks like Musk is changing his mind again. This time, he says bots providing "good content" can access Twitter's API for free. He said the platform would enable a "light, write-only" API for these bots. Now, we can't say what "good content" entails. 

But Musk justified the removal of the free access to the API with it "being abused" by bot scammers and spammers. Many developers have already announced they're shuttering their bots ahead of February 9. Musk has been looking for new ways to make money. And we've seen that from the recent decisions on the platform, including charging Twitter users to pay so they stay verified. The company is also reportedly looking to ask for US$1,000 from brands to keep their gold checkmarks on the platform.

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Twitter API changes might make it tough to log in to games like 'Genshin Impact'

Image: Mihoyo

Players of popular online games Genshin Impact and Arknights that use Twitter to sign in to the games might have trouble accessing them. With Twitter's pending API changes, the developers of both titles are recommending that users link their accounts to their email addresses instead. For Genshin Impact, they recommend going to the HoYoverse Account page to link the accounts. For Arknights, they "strongly" recommend binding their game accounts with the Yostar account. It isn't known if the API changes will affect these services. But if you want to prevent any disruption, it might be wise to make the change.

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Twitter replaces its free API with a 'paid basic tier'

Photo: Jorge Urosa

If you've loved Twitter accounts that made fun tools and useful bots, those may have to charge you, or they'll go away forever. Twitter is getting rid of its free access to the Twitter API starting February 9 to try and make more money. In its place, Twitter will provide a "paid basic tier," which we don't have information on yet. The Twitter API (Application Programming Interface) allows third parties to retrieve and analyze public Twitter data to create programmable bots and separate apps that connect to the platform. 

Twitter provides limited free access but also offers premium, scalable tiers for developers who need additional enterprise features and lifted restrictions on accessing endpoints. This move follows the company's last decision to ban third-party clients, which forced Twitter apps like Twitterrifc and Tweetbot to abandon the platform. 

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Musk wants to revive Vine

Elon Musk wants to bring back Vine (and polled users agree)

The rumour mill and shakeup surrounding Elon Musk's Twitter acquisition continues to churn. This time around, Twitter's new owner wants to bring back its looping video app Vine. Axios cites multiple sources that Musk has ordered engineers at the company to reboot Vine before the year ends. He's tasked engineers to look at the app's old code base, which hasn't been maintained or updated since the service shut down in 2016.

According to one source, this would need "a lot of work." A tweet from a former Vine staffer, Sara Beykpour, advises it would be better for them to start over. And it is sound advice with possible API changes, security concerns, and other elements that need maintenance. 

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