The Google Play Store hosts several third-party Facebook clients that allow users to access the social networking platform on their phones. Customers offer a faster, easier and better designed interface than the company’s own social media applications for Android and, as a result, have accumulated a large user base over the years. But Facebook is now cracking down on some of these customers, namely Swipe and Simple Social, and forcing developers to remove apps from the Play Store.
Facebook’s lawyers have sent termination and termination notices to developers Swipe and Simple Social (via Android Police), asking them to remove their apps from the Play Store. Drag for Facebook developer has distributed the following message on the subreddit of the app after receiving notification from the company:
With a very heavy heart, the day has finally come to say goodbye to Swipe for Facebook.
Today, I received a letter of termination and resignation from some lawyers representing Facebook Inc. My Facebook and Instagram accounts have also been permanently deactivated (unfortunately, I have been stuck with many memories over the years and have contacted many distant relatives). I think this has happened to many other developers, which means that the day of Facebook packaging applications has finally arrived.
However, I removed both Swipe for Facebook and Swipe Pro for Facebook from the Google Play Store. The application will still work for those of you who have it, although I do not know how long.
The developer of Simple Social has distributed the following message via a pop-up notification for those who still use the application:
Important message
Due to changes made by Facebook, Simple Social is no longer supported. You can continue to use Social Simple, however you do so at your own risk. Your Facebook account may be temporarily or permanently disabled, which is not under the control of Creative Trends. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for all your support over the last 5 years. A good day.
Although the developers did not share the content of the notification, said Simple Social developer Jorell Rutledge Android Police that Facebook challenged the CSS changes to the app to hide sponsored posts on the platform and access public data on Facebook. The main problem of the company could be centered around the theme and change the experience of the social network outside the vision of the company, which is practically the USP of all third party experiences.
The applications are functional if you have them installed, although there is no guarantee for how long they will remain functional. Because developers withdraw support and also have their personal accounts suspended in some cases, there is no guarantee for how long these applications will work and whether it will remain secure for your account to be accessed from a third-party application.
If you’re done with Facebook, their insistence on using primary experiences, and their massive data breaches, here’s how you can delete your Facebook account.