Users of Twitter will gain more control over what information they share with apps from third parties, the site announced this week. But the changes may result in app developers getting more access, too.

The third-party apps – that users give their OK to for accessing their Twitter accounts – need to go through a “permissions process,” the social media site said.

“Apps that you use to access your direct messages will ask for your permission again,” according to a recent Twitter blog post. “By the middle of June, applications that do not need access to your direct messages will no longer have it, and you can continue to use these apps as usual.”

In addition, Twitter will give users more information via the Permissions Screen.

“We’ll give you more detailed information about what you’re allowing the app to do with your account,” Twitter adds in the blog post. “These activities may include reading your Tweets, seeing who you follow, updating your profile, posting Tweets on your behalf, or accessing your direct messages.”

If users do not want to approve a level of access they can decline it.

Twitter says it has hundreds of thousands of third-party apps. They “enhance” a users’ experience on the site. “Third-party apps let you do things like automatically share your Tweets on other networks, connect to other players on gaming platforms, or instantly tweet whenever you update your blog,” Twitter said in its blog post.

The new changes come after requests from users and developers who wanted more “clarity and control,” says Twitter.

In its analysis of the changes, SaaS Directory notes that Twitter has given applications more access to the users’ profiles and direct messages – if users agree. In addition, existing applications do not get automatic permission to for more access of the accounts but need to ask for permission again from users, SaaS (News - Alert) Directory said.

SaaS adds that Twitter contends the changes result in greater control for users but SaaS Directory said, “the argument with the new permissions is that users who rely on multiple apps for business or even for personal account management will have no other choice than to allow apps access to things such as their direct messages or allow the app to ‘post Tweets on your behalf’ as brand management app Seesmic (News - Alert) Web asks.”

“The update hasn’t changed anything for users and if anything, highlights Twitter’s leniency toward developers who are putting users in such a position that they must accept the requests,” SaaS Directory said.

Twitter is popular throughout the world. TMCnet’s Erin Monda said in a recent story that Japan is embracing Twitter and other social media sites. As of last year, some 16.3 percent of Japanese people Tweet, compared to 9.8 percent of Americans, TMCnet adds.

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