Users of all apps seek ease of use, but app developers aim to elevate their products by giving them more exposure and functionality. In the midst of this dispute, third parties enter the picture and offer assistance for the supposed app disturbance. Because it attempted to access YouTube’s services in an unauthorised manner, YouTube Vanced was just shut down.
The Google Play Store has booted an app that was offering a customisable, ad-free, suggestion-free feed alternative to Instagram, making it the latest app to run into that kind of difficulty.
Also Read: Instagram Parental Control Tools Rolls Out For US Users
This unofficial Instagram client, known as “The OG App,” debuted in late September with the goal of allowing users to relive the good old days when Instagram wasn’t overrun by an attention-hungry algorithm, Reels, NFTs, and intrusive ads. To construct the familiar yet personalised experience, app developers Ansh Nanda and Hardik Patil (under the Un1feed name) analysed Instagram’s API. Users have the option to curate various feeds, establish defaults, stop feeds from refreshing for 24 hours, and disable read receipts for direct messages.
instagram locked me out of my account after trying this app. i changed my password and after trying again i got alerted about an android login from egypt (i do not have an android phone and i’m in the US). never deleted quicker
— all hallows’ evan (@evcon) September 27, 2022
However, as TechCrunch notes, the project’s workarounds for using the service put user data in jeopardy by opening up a can of worms. A few Twitter users claim that after giving The OG App their login information, Instagram notified them of suspicious logins. Many users appeared to be understandably concerned about how this was being handled, despite the developers’ attempts to explain away the warnings as a result of how they handled 2FA.
@bougakov Please go to Instagram -> Settings -> Login Activity. You will see all active sessions. You will see that this session on Windows is no longer active.
For 2FA, we have to have an intermediate web session to be able to login.
— ansh nanda 🔗 (@anshnanda_) September 27, 2022
But when Apple removed the software from the App Store late last month, there was a significant backlash. According to reports, Meta is punishing the developers for breaking its rules. Apple said in its takedown notice to the developers that The OG App’s violation of Instagram’s terms of service also constituted a violation of App Store policies.
The developers tweeted that they won’t be able to continue servicing users as long as Google continues to follow Apple’s example. On Android devices, the software can still be sideloaded, but we don’t believe the advantages justify the security risk.
