I'm sure Twitter must have looked at the possibility of rolling out the kind of features Nova describes in his post. Anyone who works with the twitter API for any amount of time can recognise the potential for pushing Ads down the API pipe. I'm guessing they looked at it and the numbers didn't add up. Thinking about it there are lots of challenges with such a proposal. Top of the list would be control of the visual display of ads. Google maintain tight control of Adwords and Adsense. As does Facebook - and I'm sure they'll do so when they roll out their Adsense competitor. Taking it further there would be nothing to stop me from detecting ads which get sent down the pipes and not displaying them.I think the Ad guys just see this is being too complicated and to be fair I suspect they might be right. I'm sorry to see Twitter going this way. Their open API was their major ace in the pack and now they seem hell bent on destroying it.
I also think they're smart enough to know they won't beat Facebook or Google in this closed silo world. I can only assume this is the next logical step in siloing off the product in an acquisition play - most likely by Apple within the next 12-18 months.
mmahemoff|13 years ago
There would be. It would be against the TOS and your access would be banned.
I agree though that they've undoubtedly considered this option many times. It's hardly a new concept, there were RSS ad injection services before Twitter even began.
untog|13 years ago
No chance. Apple just doubled down on Facebook in iOS 6 and I doubt they want to rock that already somewhat unsteady boat.