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Meta has announced the long-awaited launch of the API for Threads, enabling developers to create innovative experiences around the platform. This new API allows third-party developers to enhance and expand the functionality of Threads.
Mark Zuckerberg announced the launch, stating, “The Threads API is now widely available and coming to more of you soon.”
In a blog post, Threads engineer Jesse Chen detailed the capabilities of the new API. With this tool, developers can publish posts, retrieve their own content, and deploy reply management tools, allowing users to hide or unhide specific replies and respond to them more efficiently.
Additionally, the API provides developers access to analytics, including measurements of views, likes, replies, reposts, and quotes at both the media and account levels.
The journey to the API launch began in October 2023, when Instagram head Adam Mosseri first mentioned the company’s work on the Threads API. Initially launched in a closed beta with partners like Sprinklr, Sprout Social, Social News Desk, Hootsuite, Techmeme, and a few other developers, Meta had promised to make the API widely available by June, a promise they have now fulfilled.
To assist developers in getting started, Meta has also released a reference open-source app on GitHub, offering a hands-on opportunity to explore the API’s potential.
The launch of the Threads API comes at a time when third-party developers have faced challenges with other social networks. In 2023, platforms like Twitter (now X) and Reddit restricted or shut down API access. In contrast, decentralized social networks such as Mastodon and Bluesky have adopted a more developer-friendly approach. Threads, as the largest new social network with over 150 million users, stands out by integrating with the fediverse and providing API access, opening up opportunities for third-party developers to create innovative social media experiences.
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