In 2023, social networks like Twitter and Reddit changed their terms to exclude third-party experiences and put a price on their data, which they believe is valuable for training AI models. The move received mixed reactions from third-party developers who relied on these platforms. Twitter abruptly shut out third-party apps, while Reddit imposed high costs that forced some apps to shut down. Meanwhile, new social networks like Mastodon and Bluesky have emerged, providing opportunities for developers to build alternative experiences. The challenges for developers in this changing environment include the pace of changes, the risk of being overshadowed by parent platforms, and the need to find sustainable income streams.
https://techcrunch.com/2024/02/09/social-network-api-apps-twitter-reddit-threads-mastodon-bluesky/