The social media platform announced on Friday that only paid subscribers will be able to use text messages as a two-factor authentication (2FA) method to secure their accounts.
“Only Twitter Blue subscribers will be able to use text messages as their two-factor authentication method after March 20,” the company tweeted.
Two-factor authentication, which is intended to increase account security, necessitates the use of a second authentication method in addition to a password. Twitter supports two-factor authentication via text message, authentication app, and security key.
The company believes phone-number-based 2FA is being abused by “bad actors,” according to a blog post published on Wednesday and linked to in the company’s tweet.
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.
