Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Social Media
  3. News

Instagram shuts off API access for feed reading apps

Julian Chokkattu
By

Instagram Explore
Denys Prykhodov / Shutterstock
Instagram is tightening control of its app by shutting off access for feed reading apps in its new set of rules for developers. In a blog post, the company said its update to the platform aims to “improve people’s control over their content and set up a more sustainable environment built around authentic experiences.”

In addition to streamlining Instagram and making the user experience more consistent, the move also addresses community concerns of where user photos are being shared and viewed. Developers using Instagram’s API (Application Program Interface) will have to submit their apps for review by June 1, 2016. On December 3, Instagram will begin “reviewing new and existing apps before granting full API access.” All clients using the API will have to submit their app for review, but apps that feature photo-editing or ones that simply pull your own Instagram posts will not be affected by the API restrictions.

Recommended Videos

“Apps created on or after November 17, 2015 will start in Sandbox Mode and function on newly updated API rate-limits and behaviors. Prior to going Live, and being able to be used by people other than the developers of the app, these apps will have to go through a new review process,” a note on Instagram’s site said.

Related

The Sandbox Mode will let developers build and test their app as it is being reviewed. Apps like Phonegram, Retro, and Webbygram will have to change to meet Instagram’s new requirements.

Although it seems like a big change, the number of feed apps the update will affect is small. Instagram hit 400 million users in September, but according to TechCrunch, even the most popular third-party client has “0.5 percent or fewer as many monthly active users.”

Instagram’s newly simplified platform policy also cited areas in which it plans to improve support, such as helping brands and advertisers manage their audiences better, help users share their content with third-party apps, and improve tools for publishers to discover content.

The news may incite groans from developers, but the company is providing six months of preparation before submission for the review period ends, giving them some time to focus on photo-editing.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Julian Chokkattu
Julian Chokkattu
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Julian is the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, covering smartphones, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and more…
Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram are back after several hours offline
facebook hacked

Well, here's one way to start a week off on the wrong foot: Facebook, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram were all down for several hours on Monday. Yes, completely down. Starting at roughly 9 a.m. PT, Downdetector started to show a sharp spike in reports of outages -- though as we look back, users were discussing unsent messages and broken apps even earlier.

As of 4 p.m. PT, the services had for the most part returned to working order, albeit with some cobwebs left to shake out, leaving everyone collectively scratching their heads and wondering how an outage of this scale happened.

Read more
The best free reading apps for kids for 2022
Reading apps for kids

It's no secret that kids love smartphones and tablets because they're engaging and easy to use. But they can also be learning tools that inspire kids by demonstrating experiences and offering information, while at the same time teaching reading, language, spelling, and comprehension. As parents try to set limits on their kids' screen time while encouraging them to read more books, they can also dedicate screen time to reading and developing vocabulary skills. That's the idea behind mobile reading apps, and they're especially geared toward younger kids -- preschoolers, kindergartners, and the other early grades. We've gathered a few of the most highly-regarded reading apps for kids spanning iOS, Android, and Kindle phones and tablets. While some apps are targeted to specific age groups, others have a wide range that covers a variety of learning levels and interests. And all of them are free.

While you're at it, be sure to also check out our list of best tablets for kids, apps for kids, and iOS games for kids.
Relay Reader

Read more
Instagram is looking for a way to help you improve your feed
instagram profile

If your Instagram feed feels messy and chaotic, then a new feature currently undergoing testing may be just what you need.

Spotted in recent days by Jane Manchun Wong, an app researcher whose efforts have turned up plenty of other Instagram-related tidbits in the past, the feature lets you “group the accounts you follow to make them easier to manage.”

Read more