Facebook forces third-party versions of its Android app off the Play Store

Many Android users prefer alternative versions of the Facebook app for their phones, as they may find them simpler, cleaner or easier to navigate. Swipe for Facebook is an example of these that, for example, combine the social media feed and its Messenger service, as well as themes and other interesting settings. However, this wrapper is no longer available to download from Google's Play Store.

This, according to Swipe's developer, is thanks to a cease and desist letter sent by Facebook's lawyers. Furthermore, they also claim that their own personal accounts on the platform, as well as those of Instagram, have been permanently suspended.

Jorell Rutledge, who has developed the similar third-party app Simple Social, has followed Swipe's lead, partially in order to avoid another loss of personal social media accounts. Facebook has apparently cited the use of its data in issuing the cease-and-desist directives.

Then again, this data is apparently public, and is integrated so as build a given account-holder's profile in an app's UI. The developers have also indicated that Facebook also took issue with the CSS modifications that allowed users to avoid having to look at sponsored posts afforded by third-party apps.

Currently, Swipe and Simple Social should still work on phones with these apps already installed. However, in the latter's case, the developer has found it necessary to warn ex-customers that Facebook may deactivate their accounts as well should they continue to use the app.

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