Twitter has announced that it will now charge its users for text-based two-factor authentication (2FA), which means that only Twitter Blue subscribers will be able to use the security feature after March 30th.
Twitter shared the news in a blog post, saying, “We’ve seen phone number-based 2FA used, abused… So starting today, we will no longer allow accounts to sign up for 2FA text/SMS unless they’re on Twitter Blue.” “.
Effective March 20, 2023, only Twitter Blue subscribers will be able to use text messages as their two-factor authentication method. Other accounts can use an authentication app or security key for 2FA. Learn more here:
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) February 18, 2023
For those who don’t know, two-factor authentication is another way to secure the account, where you need a randomly generated code along with your password to log in. For those who have already used the feature on Twitter but are not subscribed to Twitter Blue, they will be able to continue using the feature until March 20, 2023. But if the feature is not already enabled, they will have to sign up for Twitter Blue to use it.
Twitter CEO Elon Musk hasn’t said much about the issue yet. But he replied, “Yes.” On the following tweet:
“News: Twitter changed its policies regarding 2FA-based SMS because Telcos used bot accounts to pump 2FA SMS. They were losing $60 million a year on fraudulent SMS.”
Twitter Blue is $8 per month on the web and $11 on iOS and Android in the US. It gives subscribers a blue verification mark, the ability to edit tweets, upload 1080p videos, and in the future will allow you to see half of the ads, among other features.