Photos uploaded to Instagram by third-party apps restored for users, not public [Update]

[Half Monk 697]

Third-party Instagram apps suffered a setback Tuesday when the social network changed its API for security reasons, blocking third-party apps from uploading photos and hiding photos already taken with the apps. Now it appears Instagram has backtracked slightly, as users of third-party apps can now see their images, though others can't.

 

Images uploaded to Instagram through the use of third-party apps such as Windows Phone's Instance are now restored for the uploading users, as spotted by Windows Phone Daily, though friends and the public still can't see the uploads. Previously, images uploaded by third-party apps were hidden to everyone, including the uploading user, almost immediately after being sent to the social networks servers, and photos that were already uploaded were shielded as well. The issue impacts all third-party Instagram apps, not just Windows Phone versions.

 

 

 

According to a statement released Tuesday by Instagram, the Facebook subsidiary "made an update to the systems that we use to fight spam to help prevent future attacks and increase security." The impact on third-party apps was unintentional, and the company wasn't attempting to stop Windows Phone users from using the service despite the lack of an official app.

 

Instance users were able to uploaded photos again late Tuesday, though the images still couldn't be viewed by other users.

 

Update: Other users are now able to view photos from an Instagram member who uploaded photos from Instance and other third-party Instagram apps. All features previously available in third-party apps, including uploading photos, now appear to be working as they did prior to the social network's API changes.