Facebook and Instagram API Updates (April 2018)

By now, you’ve likely heard about the Cambridge Analytica scandal and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifying in front of Congress this week. Privacy of citizens using social platforms has come under scrutiny over the past few months, and big changes have come down the pipeline in order to work towards providing more privacy to social media users.

TPM wanted to take the time to breakdown the major changes happening to the Facebook and Instagram APIs in the coming weeks. These changes, again, are happening in an effort to protect user data and privacy. 

Facebook and Instagram are limiting the way Instagram Partners and apps access user information. 

Facebook API Changes

Updates to the Events, Groups, Pages, Search, and Games APIs will occur. Read more directly from the Facebook Newsroom, here.

Facebook will be blocking apps from accessing user data after 90 days of non-use.

On a side note, find out if your information was shared with Cambridge Analytica here.

Instagram API Changes

Updates to the Follows & Relationships, Commenting on Public Content, Likes, and User search will occur.

Many third-party Instagram apps will be affected and will no longer work.

Instagram bots that ‘comment' and ‘like' photos will no longer work. Some bots will inevitably do a work-around in order to still exist, but just like before, use of these are against Instagram terms of service and will likely end in a ban to the account. Brands and users may experience lower engagement due to the lowered number of bots, but rest assured, the engagement and followers you earn will be by actual humans (most likely!)

The photos and posts you ‘like’ on Instagram will now be private to you. Nobody will be able to see what you are liking.

You can no longer see if a user follows you on Instagram.

TPM Assurance

As our clients know, TPM is always up-to-speed on the latest social media news. We can assure you that there is no reason to panic from a business stand-point. Our team will be discussing how these changes may affect your business and how best to proceed with our strategies while adapting to these changes.