Facebook has once again introduced several API changes and shutdowns aimed at limiting apps' access to user data. The company seems to be attempting to manage the upheaval caused by the Cambridge Analytica fiasco. Some APIs have been tweaked to limit access to user data through App Review, or have been shutdown entirely due to low usage. For context, APIs or Application Programming Interfaces are a software layer that allows applications to access features or data from a platform like Facebook. Facebook reviews apps before they go public, to examine what user data apps obtain and how they use it. An App Review enables developers to use Facebook Login, gives them access to a user's pubic profile, enables apps to ask for additional permissions (apart from email address and public profile), and ensures that permissions requested are rational and relevant. "Data gained from the permission needs to be tied to a direct use." says Facebook's policy. These API changes by Facebook now require App Reviews: Pages API: Developers can once again search for Facebook pages via the Pages API. However, they will have to seek feature permissions for Page Public Content Access, which can only be obtained after an app review. Page Public Content Access provides anonymised data including public comments, posts, and reviews for a Page. It enables Facebook users to discover pages; for app owners, it provides tools about how a business's brand, products, or services are being publicly talked about. Marketing API: An app review is now required…
