X Pulls The Ability To Like And Follow From Its Developer Api’s Free Tier

In an effort to trim down connected maltreatment and clone engagement, Elon Musk’s X is removing entree to 2 cardinal features of its developer API for those connected nan free plan. Now, free users will nary longer beryllium capable to usage nan API to for illustration posts connected behalf of a user, nor travel different users.

The institution says these changes will thief protect X’s level from “spam, bots, and manipulative activities” that degrade nan personification experience.

Developers connected paid plans for illustration nan Basic, Pro, aliases Enterprise tiers will beryllium unaffected. These plans besides see entree to much capabilities, higher complaint limits, and support for a broader scope of features.

While restricting entree to immoderate of nan astir communal actions connected X could thief trim down connected programmatic abuse, it could besides push developers pinch morganatic businesses aliases projects who want to proceed to move toward paid plans.

X has made a number of important changes to its API level nether Musk, initially ending free entree pinch small developer warning, past later changing its mind to support immoderate free usage. When its caller API pricing arrived successful outpouring 2023, it was clear nan institution had gross generation successful mind, arsenic its astir bare-bones, basal scheme would do small much than support those that were offering “good bots,” — that is, automated accounts that provided useful information, for illustration upwind alerts.

Last October, X increased nan prices for its basal tier arsenic well, from $100 to $200 per month, and added higher limits.