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>no one will be stupid enough not to use a client like that. Twitter allows exactly that (or used to, unsure if the API is still up): an API for third parties

by BbzzbB 5y ago

>no one will be stupid enough not to use a client like that. Twitter allows exactly that (or used to, unsure if the API is still up): an API for third parties to use it's content and make alternative front-ends, like Nitter. How many people use them? I don't know, but I'd bet my liver (non-binding offer) it's a minuscule fraction of it's users. Browsers allow to purge just about every ad from your Internet in a handful of clicks. How many people use them? A mere 27% in the US [0] Non-Chrome mobile browsers allow extensions to purge ads too (savvy Google killed the Chrome store as they couldn't just kill adblockers, yet managed to stay dominant.. power of brands). How many people use them on Android? A laughable 14% [1]. Of which a fraction will be ad-blocking. People are not idiots, but it's just not as simple as "offer an ad-free/superior alternative and people will flock to it". People are creatures of habits, if they learned to go to twitter.com or facebook.com, it doesn't matter how much better your alt-front-end is; even if you don't have to compete with the network effect as you'd share the backbone, it will be a steep, steep uphill battle to gain traction. 0: https://www.statista.com/statistics/804008/ad-blocking-reach-usage-us/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/804008/ad-blocking-reach... 1: https://netmarketshare.com/browser-market-share.aspx https://netmarketshare.com/browser-market-share.aspx

strogonoff 5y ago
I think that is exactly the point: they all used to offer full APIs to attract users, and they do not do it anytime not because no one is using it but for the opposite reason. And if you think the arms race to hide ads on the Web as a whole is somehow similar you are missing the point. Yes sure, the more people use the extension the less ad money, but guess what—platforms find ways to work around that, lobby for new browser specs, etc. If it remains the main revenue stream, money will find a way, so that root cause should be eliminated. And the outcome could be a unified single interface that can tie together your social communications across different platforms—if it were possible, would you not use it?
- BbzzbB 5y ago
  I replied to a very specific part of their comment, I have not been rooting against the proposition of opening up walled garden. If "I" would use it is entirely irrelevant, all I meant to point out is people don't flock to better alternatives just because they exist. I think that most of them not even be bothered (or knowing to) de-clutter their Internet browsers is a good example of that point.
  - strogonoff 5y ago
    What if Apple literally seamlessly integrates all those platforms into a single messaging center? No ads, no apps. Because this is the kind of thing the open API would enable.
Hakashiro 5y ago
No, Twitter API nowadays is extremely limited and getting an API key is nearly impossible. And even if you do, it lacks functionality. Spaces aren't exposed via API. And also there's a hardcoded request limit.

by BbzzbB 5y ago

strogonoff 5y ago

I think that is exactly the point: they all used to offer full APIs to attract users, and they do not do it anytime not because no one is using it but for the opposite reason. And if you think the arms race to hide ads on the Web as a whole is somehow similar you are missing the point. Yes sure, the more people use the extension the less ad money, but guess what—platforms find ways to work around that, lobby for new browser specs, etc. If it remains the main revenue stream, money will find a way, so that root cause should be eliminated. And the outcome could be a unified single interface that can tie together your social communications across different platforms—if it were possible, would you not use it?

BbzzbB 5y ago
I replied to a very specific part of their comment, I have not been rooting against the proposition of opening up walled garden. If "I" would use it is entirely irrelevant, all I meant to point out is people don't flock to better alternatives just because they exist. I think that most of them not even be bothered (or knowing to) de-clutter their Internet browsers is a good example of that point.
- strogonoff 5y ago
  What if Apple literally seamlessly integrates all those platforms into a single messaging center? No ads, no apps. Because this is the kind of thing the open API would enable.

Hakashiro 5y ago

No, Twitter API nowadays is extremely limited and getting an API key is nearly impossible. And even if you do, it lacks functionality. Spaces aren't exposed via API. And also there's a hardcoded request limit.