Twitter OAuth Updates

Important OAuth Updates For All Twitter Users

More than 250,000 applications are accessed using Twitter API. Most of them require that you authorize the application to access your Twitter account. You can then read or post Tweets, find new users, and perform other functions.

There are numerous applications, including those for your desktop like TweetDeck, Seesmic, and EchoFon, websites like TweetMeme, fflick, and Topsy, and mobile applications such as Twitter for iPhone, Blackberry, and Foursquare.

New Authorization Rules For Applications

As of August 31, you’ll need to access your Twitter account using “OAuth” on all applications.

What Is OAuth?

With your consent, the OAuth technology allows applications to access Twitter for you without your having to enter a password.

You may initially be asked to enter your password on desktop and mobile applications. After the first time, you’ll use OAuth to Tweet or access your time line.

Implications For Users

1. The applications can no longer store your password.
2. Even if you change your password, the applications will still work.
3. Some applications may ask you to reauthorize them or stop functioning when the updates take effect.
4. Your authorized applications will be listed at http://twitter/settings/connections.
5. You may cancel access to an application at any time.

t URL Wrapping

They will be expanding the roll-out of our link wrapping service for Tweets, t, with an updated and simplified link. The new links will display the actual domain and part of the URL so you can see what you’re clicking.

After your click, the request will move through Twitter to verify that the destination site is safe from malware. You will then be taken to the destination URL instantaneously.

These links will appear on accounts that have opted into the service and should be available to all users by the end of 2010. After that, all links shared on twitter and third-party applications will be wrapped with a t URL.

Implications For Users

1. Long links like http://amazon/Delivering-Happiness-Profits-Passion-Purpose/dp/0446563048 might be wrapped as http://t/DRo0trj for SMS display, while web and application users would see amazon/Delivering, the entire URL, or the page title.
2. The new links will clearly show exactly where they’re taking you.
3. Twitter will log each click on these links from twitter or any Twitter application, thus providing you with clearer, better content.