Instagram Threads API in Development, Opening Up New Possibilities for Developers
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, announced today that they are working on a Threads API. This will provide developers with the opportunity to create different apps and experiences centered around Threads.
Mosseri’s Response to Casey Newton
Mosseri’s announcement came in response to journalist Casey Newton, who was discussing the possibility of a TweetDeck-like experience for Threads. Mosseri expressed concern about publishers overwhelming the platform with content and overshadowing creator-driven content.
“We’re working on it. My worry is that it may result in an abundance of publisher content and not enough creator content, but we still recognize its importance,” said Mosseri in a post.
News Content on Threads
Threads has taken a clear stance on news content, stating that while it is not “anti-news,” it won’t actively prioritize news amplification. Traditionally, news publications have relied on third-party tools and integrations with social networks like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook to automatically share their content. However, without available APIs on newer platforms like Threads, publishers must manually publish their articles, which is less than ideal for organizations posting numerous articles daily.
Balance between Publishers and Creators
While Mosseri worries about the potential flood of content from publishers using API integration, creators also require diverse tools to share different types of content. Offering an API integration would make it easier for developers to create features tailored to the platform’s needs.
Threads’ Opportunity to Foster an App Ecosystem
With other social networks such as Twitter (now X) and Reddit making it difficult for third-party developers to create clients, Threads has an opportunity to foster a healthy app ecosystem by opening up its API. Rival networks like Bluesky and Mastodon have seen developers create some clients, but their user bases tend to be smaller than that of Threads.
The Potential Impact on User Experience
Just this week, Meta reported that Threads has nearly 100 million monthly active users. While an API and third-party app ecosystem may not directly increase this number, it will provide users with alternative ways to explore the network. The Threads team has already introduced numerous features since its launch. However, a third-party app ecosystem would allow developers to create additional user-requested features.
Integrating Threads with the Fedisverse
Furthermore, Mosseri and Meta have discussed integrating Threads with the Fedisverse. Therefore, establishing an open ecosystem with a well-maintained API is a significant step toward achieving that goal.