Can I Develop a Facebook App Without a Registered Company?

You don't need to go through app review until you switch out of developer mode, which is great for testing! Most API endpoints still allow you to use basic permissions and give you enough quota for development. Your business info won’t be verified until you hit that app review stage, so if you’re just using the API in a machine-to-machine way, you might never have to deal with that review process unless your app grows in usage. Just keep in mind, if you need permissions for accessing groups, you can't skip that requirement. And yes, understanding all these security measures does trace back to things like the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which changed how Facebook manages permissions for developers.

Oh man, I hear you! The whole process does seem designed to only accommodate businesses rather than individual developers. It’s harsh trying to build something cool without being pushed through their extensive requirements. I thought that being a huge company, Meta would have a simpler onboarding for indie creators. But every step just feels like a hurdle.

I totally get your frustration! I'm in the same boat, trying to find clear information on this topic. The requirements often seem so vague, making it hard to navigate this landscape. It's as if Meta's system is entirely automated lately—I'm having issues with account verifications too, and it's super discouraging. They really need to streamline their process to support developers better.