4 ms·

A Solution to the Twitter API Problem

26 points by hornbaker 14y ago

ecaradec 14y ago
I agree : it would be a better model to put ads in twitter feeds. Twitter needs his polymorphics clients : I wouldn't like to use anything else than tweetbot on iOS. As an alternative option I would share ad revenues with platforms, that could boost the creation of twitter tools by providing them a revenue model. I probably wouldn't provide an ad less option but I'd discuss with google, linkedin, case by case, etc...
bkap 14y ago
I empathize with the people who make a living off of the open API. However, I believe your own interest is boxing you into a narrow view. You said it yourself... The important thing is the function that an open network for free speech and organization plays. You also point out the legitimate concern regarding central control of such a powerful tool. So I think you can agree that it is naive to try to manipulate a corporate structure that has already showed its hand. You must trust that we will continue to evolve our ability to freely communicate and share with new networks. Your panic comes from the possibility of personal loss, meanwhile people will keep on sharing and organizing in new and better ways. The problem that keeps me up at night is that people are superficial online and on the mainstream networks. We need to free ourselves in more ways than one. I love your passion for leadership and your vision for a movement towards we the product. However, it is quite unsettling to see how much personal interest can corrupt you along with the company you are criticizing. I'm a 22 year old entrepreneur freely representing the next wave of innovation and that is the perspective I write from.
rocky1138 14y ago
I love the idea of duplicating anything put on Twitter onto an open-source system just in case we need to route around them. I'm not well-versed in the FOSS solutions available, but I think http://status.net/ http://status.net/ looks good. It's what powers identi.ca.
Draiken 14y ago
I don't think Twitter is as stupid as people think. They surely have thought about all of these options and soon we'll see how that is going to play out. I think this is a little of a biased analysis, and without real data, there is no way you can just propose a solution and say it's the best. It is a good solution but if they chose not to implement it, they probably have a good reason to do so. Another thing you don't even touch is how hard would it be to actually implement this advertise tweets coming from the network and showing up in tons of different clients. It's not as easy or simple as you insinuate. Good article, but people have to remember that Twitter is ultimately a company.
edbloom 14y ago
I'm sure Twitter must have looked at the possibility of rolling out the kind of features Nova describes in his post. Anyone who works with the twitter API for any amount of time can recognise the potential for pushing Ads down the API pipe. I'm guessing they looked at it and the numbers didn't add up. Thinking about it there are lots of challenges with such a proposal. Top of the list would be control of the visual display of ads. Google maintain tight control of Adwords and Adsense. As does Facebook - and I'm sure they'll do so when they roll out their Adsense competitor. Taking it further there would be nothing to stop me from detecting ads which get sent down the pipes and not displaying them. I think the Ad guys just see this is being too complicated and to be fair I suspect they might be right. I'm sorry to see Twitter going this way. Their open API was their major ace in the pack and now they seem hell bent on destroying it. I also think they're smart enough to know they won't beat Facebook or Google in this closed silo world. I can only assume this is the next logical step in siloing off the product in an acquisition play - most likely by Apple within the next 12-18 months.
- mmahemoff 14y ago
  "Taking it further there would be nothing to stop me from detecting ads which get sent down the pipes and not displaying them." There would be. It would be against the TOS and your access would be banned. I agree though that they've undoubtedly considered this option many times. It's hardly a new concept, there were RSS ad injection services before Twitter even began.
- untog 14y ago
  an acquisition play - most likely by Apple within the next 12 months No chance. Apple just doubled down on Facebook in iOS 6 and I doubt they want to rock that already somewhat unsteady boat.

26 points by hornbaker 14y ago

I agree : it would be a better model to put ads in twitter feeds. Twitter needs his polymorphics clients : I wouldn't like to use anything else than tweetbot on iOS. As an alternative option I would share ad revenues with platforms, that could boost the creation of twitter tools by providing them a revenue model. I probably wouldn't provide an ad less option but I'd discuss with google, linkedin, case by case, etc...

bkap 14y ago

I empathize with the people who make a living off of the open API. However, I believe your own interest is boxing you into a narrow view. You said it yourself... The important thing is the function that an open network for free speech and organization plays. You also point out the legitimate concern regarding central control of such a powerful tool. So I think you can agree that it is naive to try to manipulate a corporate structure that has already showed its hand. You must trust that we will continue to evolve our ability to freely communicate and share with new networks. Your panic comes from the possibility of personal loss, meanwhile people will keep on sharing and organizing in new and better ways. The problem that keeps me up at night is that people are superficial online and on the mainstream networks. We need to free ourselves in more ways than one. I love your passion for leadership and your vision for a movement towards we the product. However, it is quite unsettling to see how much personal interest can corrupt you along with the company you are criticizing. I'm a 22 year old entrepreneur freely representing the next wave of innovation and that is the perspective I write from.

rocky1138 14y ago

I love the idea of duplicating anything put on Twitter onto an open-source system just in case we need to route around them. I'm not well-versed in the FOSS solutions available, but I think http://status.net/ http://status.net/ looks good. It's what powers identi.ca.

Draiken 14y ago

I don't think Twitter is as stupid as people think. They surely have thought about all of these options and soon we'll see how that is going to play out. I think this is a little of a biased analysis, and without real data, there is no way you can just propose a solution and say it's the best. It is a good solution but if they chose not to implement it, they probably have a good reason to do so. Another thing you don't even touch is how hard would it be to actually implement this advertise tweets coming from the network and showing up in tons of different clients. It's not as easy or simple as you insinuate. Good article, but people have to remember that Twitter is ultimately a company.

edbloom 14y ago

I'm sure Twitter must have looked at the possibility of rolling out the kind of features Nova describes in his post. Anyone who works with the twitter API for any amount of time can recognise the potential for pushing Ads down the API pipe. I'm guessing they looked at it and the numbers didn't add up. Thinking about it there are lots of challenges with such a proposal. Top of the list would be control of the visual display of ads. Google maintain tight control of Adwords and Adsense. As does Facebook - and I'm sure they'll do so when they roll out their Adsense competitor. Taking it further there would be nothing to stop me from detecting ads which get sent down the pipes and not displaying them. I think the Ad guys just see this is being too complicated and to be fair I suspect they might be right. I'm sorry to see Twitter going this way. Their open API was their major ace in the pack and now they seem hell bent on destroying it. I also think they're smart enough to know they won't beat Facebook or Google in this closed silo world. I can only assume this is the next logical step in siloing off the product in an acquisition play - most likely by Apple within the next 12-18 months.

mmahemoff 14y ago
"Taking it further there would be nothing to stop me from detecting ads which get sent down the pipes and not displaying them." There would be. It would be against the TOS and your access would be banned. I agree though that they've undoubtedly considered this option many times. It's hardly a new concept, there were RSS ad injection services before Twitter even began.
untog 14y ago
an acquisition play - most likely by Apple within the next 12 months No chance. Apple just doubled down on Facebook in iOS 6 and I doubt they want to rock that already somewhat unsteady boat.