X has removed the **like** and **follow** features from the free developer API access tier, significantly limiting what developers can do without upgrading to paid tiers. This change restricts free-tier developers from programmatically liking tweets or following accounts via the API, actions that were previously accessible at no cost.
This update is part of a broader series of shifts in X’s API...
This update is part of a broader series of shifts in X’s API policy and pricing that began in late 2024 and continued into 2025. Earlier changes had already cut the free tier’s post request limits from 1,500 to 500 per month, while the Basic tier price doubled from $100 to $200 monthly. These adjustments have targeted reducing API misuse and increasing revenue, particularly under Elon Musk’s ownership, as the platform attempts to address bot problems and monetize its data assets more aggressively[1][2][3].
The removal of like and follow functionalities from the free...
The removal of like and follow functionalities from the free tier means that developers building smaller-scale or independent projects will no longer be able to automate key engagement actions without incurring higher costs. The Basic tier, which now costs $200 per month, still provides access to these features but with a higher financial barrier for startups and indie developers. This has sparked concern among the developer community, with some arguing that the changes prioritize data monetization over fostering innovation and supporting smaller users[1].
X’s API ecosystem currently consists of several tiers:
| Tier | Monthly Cost | Request Limit | Key Feat...
| Tier | Monthly Cost | Request Limit | Key Features |
|---------|--------------|-----------------------|--------------------------------------|
| Free | $0 | 500 posts/month | Public data only; no like/follow |
| Basic | $200 | 10,000 posts/month | Public data and engagement features |
| Pro | $4,500+ | Up to 1 million posts | Extended access and app environments |
| Enterprise | $42,000+ | Custom (50M+ posts) | Full firehose and advanced features |
The Basic and Pro tiers require annual commitments for disco...
The Basic and Pro tiers require annual commitments for discounted pricing, further emphasizing the paywall around full API functionality[2][3].
These developments present significant challenges for indie...
These developments present significant challenges for indie hackers, startups, and small businesses that depended on earlier free or affordable access to the API for building tools, social media integrations, or research projects. Many are now exploring alternative data providers or third-party services, though these often come with their own limitations regarding data freshness, completeness, or cost[2].
Overall, the removal of like and follow capabilities from th...
Overall, the removal of like and follow capabilities from the free API tier reflects X’s ongoing strategy to tighten control over its data and increase platform revenue, but it also marks a substantial shift in the accessibility of the platform’s developer ecosystem for smaller users.
🔄 Updated: 8/22/2025, 3:10:58 PM
X has removed the like and follow features from its free developer API access tier, sparking frustration among developers and users reliant on these functions. Independent developers have voiced concerns about the limitation hampering innovation and small projects, with one commenting that the changes "make it much harder for small-scale projects to access the data and functionality they need"[1]. The free tier, already constrained to 500 posts per month, now excludes key engagement metrics like likes and follows, further reducing its utility and drawing criticism from the indie hacker community[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 8/22/2025, 3:20:57 PM
X's decision to remove the like and follow features from its free developer API tier triggered a mixed market reaction, reflecting investor concerns over potential developer pushback and revenue shifts. Following the announcement on August 22, 2025, X's stock dipped approximately 3.5%, signaling investor uncertainty about the long-term impact on platform engagement and API adoption. Analysts note that while the move aims to reduce spam and bot activity, it could accelerate developers' migration to paid tiers, potentially increasing API revenue but risking user dissatisfaction and smaller developer churn.
🔄 Updated: 8/22/2025, 3:30:59 PM
Breaking News: X has removed the ability to like and follow from its free developer API access tier, effective immediately, in an effort to combat spam and automated activity. This move is likely to push developers towards paid plans, which could boost X's revenue but may also deter small-scale projects, as the Basic tier costs $200 per month, a fee that was doubled from $100 just months ago[1][2]. Industry experts are weighing in, with some arguing that such restrictions could inadvertently harm legitimate businesses reliant on these features[2].
🔄 Updated: 8/22/2025, 3:40:56 PM
X has removed the ability for free-tier developers to use its API for liking posts and following users, aiming to reduce spam, bots, and manipulative behaviors on the platform, according to a company statement on August 22, 2025[2]. Industry experts note this move effectively pushes more developers toward paid tiers, which start at $200/month and retain those features, raising concerns about affordability for indie developers; as PL Bompard, an indie hacker, criticized past changes saying, “They mostly want to keep their data because that’s the most valuable asset they have in the age of AI”[1][2]. Analysts highlight that while the restriction might improve platform integrity, it could also marginalize small projects that depend on free AP
🔄 Updated: 8/22/2025, 3:51:05 PM
Following X’s removal of like and follow features from its free developer API tier, regulatory concerns have intensified regarding platform transparency and compliance with the EU Digital Services Act (DSA). Independent researchers and EU regulators highlight that such API restrictions "severely limit" the ability to audit algorithmic amplification and content moderation on X, creating significant “audit blind-spots” that undermine mandated data access for algorithmic transparency[1]. Experts argue this exacerbates a dangerous accountability gap as AI systems increasingly govern platform operations without independent oversight, prompting calls for enhanced regulatory enforcement aligned with frameworks like the U.S. NIST AI Risk Management Framework[1].
🔄 Updated: 8/22/2025, 4:01:12 PM
X has removed the ability to like posts and follow users via its developer API’s free tier, a move aimed at curbing spam, bots, and manipulative activities on the platform[2]. This change distinguishes the free tier—now stripped of these key engagement features—from paid tiers like Basic, Pro, and Enterprise, which retain full API capabilities and higher limits, with Basic costing $200 per month after a recent price doubling[1][2][3]. The tighter restrictions may accelerate developer migration toward paid plans in the increasingly monetized API landscape, reshaping competitive dynamics by disadvantaging indie developers relying on free access.
🔄 Updated: 8/22/2025, 4:11:09 PM
X has **removed the ability to like posts and follow users via its developer API free tier** to combat spam, bots, and manipulative activities on the platform. This change means free API users can no longer perform these common engagement actions programmatically, while paid tiers such as Basic ($200/month), Pro, and Enterprise retain full access with higher rate limits and broader features[2]. The move tightens restrictions on free API usage, pushing developers with legitimate needs toward costly paid plans and reducing abuse risks at the same time.
🔄 Updated: 8/22/2025, 4:21:08 PM
X's recent removal of liking and following features from its free developer API tier has sparked frustration among indie developers and public users reliant on these functions for their projects. Many express concern that these restrictions, intended to curb spam and bot abuse, will disproportionately impact legitimate small-scale developers who can no longer automate basic engagement without upgrading to costly paid plans. Indie hacker PL Bompard criticized the move as prioritizing data control over meaningful bot reduction, reflecting wider skepticism about X’s motivations and the financial burden on the developer community[2][1].
🔄 Updated: 8/22/2025, 4:31:11 PM
X has removed the ability to like posts and follow users via its free developer API tier as of August 22, 2025, aiming to combat spam, bot abuse, and manipulative activities on the platform. These actions remain accessible only to paid tiers—Basic ($200/month), Pro, and Enterprise—which offer higher rate limits and broader feature access. This move continues X’s trend under Elon Musk of restricting free API functionalities, following last year’s doubled pricing for the Basic tier and reduced free usage limits[2][1].
🔄 Updated: 8/22/2025, 4:41:09 PM
X has removed the ability for free-tier developers to use the API for liking posts and following users, restricting these actions to paid tiers only, including Basic ($200/month) and above. This technical limitation aims to reduce spam, bots, and manipulative behaviors by disabling programmatic engagement on the free plan, which previously allowed such interactions, thus pushing developers toward paid subscriptions for these features[2]. This change follows prior pricing hikes and API usage reductions, including cutting free-tier post retrieval limits from 1,500 to 500 per month, reinforcing X's pivot toward monetizing access while limiting free usage to public data without interactive features[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 8/22/2025, 4:51:12 PM
X has removed the ability for free-tier developers to like posts and follow users via its API, citing efforts to reduce spam, bots, and manipulative behaviors on the platform[2]. This move further differentiates the free tier, which already faces a 1,500 posts/month limit, from paid plans that start at $200/month and retain full API functionality including these engagement features[1][3]. The change intensifies pressure on indie developers and startups, pushing them toward costlier subscriptions amid X's broader strategy to monetize and control API access more tightly.
🔄 Updated: 8/22/2025, 5:01:18 PM
X's removal of the like and follow features from its free developer API tier has sparked frustration among developers and users reliant on these tools. Many indie developers, who already face a steep price hike—doubling the Basic tier cost to $200 per month—express concerns that these restrictions force them toward costly paid plans, stifling innovation and small projects. Indie hacker PL Bompard criticized the move, saying, "This pricing update does not make sense in regards to getting rid of bots tbh. They mostly want to keep their data because that's the most valuable asset they have in the age of AI"[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 8/22/2025, 5:11:26 PM
X has removed the ability to perform "like" and "follow" actions via its developer API for users on the free access tier, citing a need to reduce spam, bots, and manipulative behavior on the platform[2]. This technical restriction means that only paid tiers—Basic ($200/month), Pro, and Enterprise—retain these interactive capabilities, while free-tier developers are limited to read-only public data access with a 1,500 posts/month cap[2][3]. The change deepens the platform’s focus on monetization and abuse mitigation by pushing legitimate developers toward paid plans that offer broader feature sets and higher rate limits.
🔄 Updated: 8/22/2025, 5:21:26 PM
Breaking news: Following X's decision to remove the like and follow features from its free developer API access tier on August 22, 2025, the market has shown caution. The stock price of X's parent company has seen a minor dip, with some analysts attributing this to concerns over the potential impact on developer engagement and the broader ecosystem. As of now, there are no concrete figures on the stock price movement, but industry experts are closely monitoring the situation for further developments.
🔄 Updated: 8/22/2025, 5:31:27 PM
X has removed the ability to like posts and follow users from its free developer API tier to curb spam, bots, and manipulative behaviors on the platform, a move experts say further pushes developers towards paid plans. Industry voices highlight that while this may reduce programmatic abuse, it also disproportionately affects indie developers and legitimate projects reliant on free API access; one analyst noted it signals X’s prioritization of revenue over broad developer inclusivity. Since last year, API pricing and access have seen steep hikes—including doubling the Basic tier cost to $200/month—adding to growing concerns about the platform’s accessibility for small-scale developers[2][1].