Twitter said that it will allow only its paid subscribers to use text messages as a two-factor authentication (2FA) method to secure their accounts.
In a tweet Company said that After 20th March, “only Twitter Blue subscribers will be able to use text messages as their two-factor authentication method”.
Also Read: Twitter suspended accounts of Journalist over breaching community guidelines
Two-factor authentication, meant to make accounts more secure, requires an account holder to use a second authentication method in addition to a password. Twitter allows 2FA by text message, authentication app, and a security key.
The company believes phone-number-based 2FA is being abused by “bad actors”.
Twitter owner Elon Musk tweeted “Yup” in reply to a user tweet that the company was changing policy “because Telcos Used Bot Accounts to Pump 2FA SMS,” and that the company was losing $60 million a year “on scam SMS.”
The blue check mark, previously free for verified accounts of politicians, famous personalities, journalists and other public figures, is now open to anyone prepared to pay.
Remember that Last month, Twitter said it would price Twitter Blue subscription for Android at $11 per month, the same as for iOS subscribers.
It was rolled out last year to help Twitter grow revenue as owner Elon Musk fights to retain advertisers. Google’s Android users will be able to purchase Twitter Blue’s monthly subscription for $11, the same price as Apple’s iOS users, Twitter said on its website.
