On August 12, 2019, Twitter announced a new policy that would ban third-party apps from accessing Twitter accounts. The policy had been in the works for some time, but the announcement came as a shock to many Twitter power users and developers.

The policy meant that popular third-party apps like Tweetbot and Twitterrific would lose some functionality, such as push notifications and the ability to stream tweets in real-time. The change was set to take effect on August 16, but Twitter eventually delayed the implementation until August 23.

The move to ban third-party apps was met with criticism from users and developers alike. Here are some of the reasons why it’s terrible for users.

1. Fewer choices

Twitter’s decision to ban third-party apps means that users have fewer choices when it comes to the apps they use to access Twitter. The official Twitter app may work well for some people, but others prefer the customization options available in third-party apps.

2. No more innovation

By banning third-party apps, Twitter is essentially stifling innovation in the Twitter ecosystem. Third-party apps have long been a source of innovation on Twitter, with developers coming up with new and creative ways to use the platform. By limiting access to the API, Twitter is essentially saying that it has all the best ideas and that no one else can come up with anything worth using.

3. Features lost

Twitter’s decision to ban third-party apps means that users of those apps will lose some features that they’ve come to rely on. For example, users may lose access to custom timelines, a feature that allows them to curate tweets from different users into one feed. And without push notifications, users will have to manually check their timelines to see the latest tweets.

4. Branding

Twitter’s decision also means that users will have to use the official Twitter app if they want to use certain features that are only available in that app. This means that Twitter’s branding will become more prominent, and users will no longer have the option to use third-party apps that allow them to customize the appearance of their Twitter feeds.

Overall, Twitter’s decision to ban third-party apps is terrible for users. It limits choice, stifles innovation, and takes away features that users have come to rely on. While Twitter may have its reasons for banning third-party apps, the move ultimately harms the user experience.