Social network X (formerly Twitter) launched an exciting new update for its developer API program on Tuesday. Introducing top-up packs, these paid upgrades will now allow developers to access roughly 10,000 posts for only $100 in the event that they hit their limit for the current tier in the middle of the month.
“Last year, Elon Musk curtailed free API access and released new paid tiers with the basic level starting at $100 per month. The company then later introduced a more advanced $5,000 per month Pro tier with higher limits.”
However, prior to this update, there was no option for developers to access additional tweets once they reached their monthly limit. They were left with the choice of waiting until the following month or upgrading to a more expensive tier.
But with the launch of these new top-up packs, X announced that there will also be limitations on the number of upgrades developers can purchase. Those with the basic tier will be capped at 10 top-ups per month, while those with the pro tier will be limited to 5 top-ups per month.
The changes to X’s API had a massive impact on the third-party developer ecosystem. Many tools, such as Tracy Chou’s Block Party, have shifted their focus to other social media platforms.
Furthermore, the company’s modifications to its API rules affected researchers and their ability to study data from the platform. However, due to the Digital Services Act (DSA) regulations put in place by the EU, X was forced to grant access to researchers in that region.
