Facebook Releases Graph API v8.0, Marketing API v8.0

Facebook released Graph API (application-programming interface) v8.0 and Marketing API v8.0 this week, along with detailing changes to its app review process. The social network also alerted iOS developers to look out for further software development kit announcements related to Apple’s pending rollout of iOS 14. Facebook said in a blog post that in order for an app to access the business field on ad accounts, that app is now required to have been granted granular permissions to the business-specific object being accessed, and by Nov. 2, apps will need to request granular business_management permissions on the business that owns the ad accounts. The social network is also removing its Sharing for Devices feature, which enables users to share content from Internet of Things devices to Facebook via a share dialog. This feature will be removed Nov. 2. On Sept. 28, v5.0 and v6.0 of the Marketing API will no longer be available, and the same goes for v3.1 of Graph API as of Oct. 27. Finally, starting Oct. 1, target cost bidding can no longer be selected from available bidding options in the user interface. Facebook said target cost will be depreciated in v8.0 of the Marketing API but accessible via v7.0. The social network recommended the cost cap bid strategy as an alternative, saying that it gives advertisers the ability to cap their campaign’s average cost per acquisition and get as many optimization events as it can without exceeding its budget cap. On the app review front, Facebook is replacing development and live mode for business apps with three data access levels that cover every permission and feature and provide more flexibility while streamlining integration. They are: Standard access: Access to assets and data that the developer’s business or anyone with a role on the app owns. Standard access for every business permission and feature will be granted to apps in development mode and new apps, as well as to live mode apps for any business permission and feature not previously approved via app review. Advanced access: Adds access to data owned by other businesses or people. Developers can submit for advanced access through app review for each business permission and feature, while apps in live mode will be migrated to advanced access for any permissions and feature that were already approved via app review. None: No data access. Developers can remove access for any permission or feature and return to prior access levels at a later time if they choose to do so. Facebook is also rolling out a new reviewable feature for business app, business asset user profile access, for access to user profile data via business assets. The social network said this change was implemented to further safeguard and protect user data, adding that business apps currently approved to access user profile data and actively doing so will be migrated to advanced access for this feature, while those that haven’t used data in 90 days will be migrated to standard access. Finally, the social network detailed to updates to the app review dashboard. Permissions and feature were consolidated into a single page, which includes Messenger From Facebook permissions. And more guidance is being provided on ads management standard access through instant notifications when apps do not meet the API call requirements to submit for app review. Facebook wrote in a blog post, “These updates are part of the initiatives we’re rolling out to drive long-term value for developers while building a safer, more sustainable platform.”