Because they can target you with you Facebook and Google ads.
Ask HN: Why are more and more websites asking for phone numbers?
21–30 of 45 posts
Re: Ask HN: Why are more and more websites asking for phone numbers?
#22Phone numbers are more convenient in contrary to email: every individual has only one phone number, which hardly ever changes. They consider the phone number as unique identifier of a user. Many websites think that lots of users have multiple emails and thus maybe sign up twice. Again, it's only about convenience.
Many people change phone number more than email.
Re: Ask HN: Why are more and more websites asking for phone numbers?
#23Doesn't it help ensure the user is using a phone and can get notifications when you couple it with a text message code entry? Then you can skip the typical authentication flow? I would think it would be quicker overall for signup and for making the code simpler but I guess weird for users not used to it.
Re: Ask HN: Why are more and more websites asking for phone numbers?
#24Phone numbers are more convenient in contrary to email: every individual has only one phone number, which hardly ever changes. They consider the phone number as unique identifier of a user. Many websites think that lots of users have multiple emails and thus maybe sign up twice. Again, it's only about convenience.
this really sounds like a 'common mistakes programmers believe about phone numbers' is coming to a future near us.
Re: Ask HN: Why are more and more websites asking for phone numbers?
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
Twitter demanding a phone number to unlock a 5 min old account after saying it was optional and then pretending I broke their rules just to get my phone number. As for the uptick in services requiring phone numbers? All the messaging apps, all the freelance websites, facebook, google, classified ad sites/apps. And these are just examples of things I tried using.
I use/have used literally all of the things on that list, and none have required a phone number for normal use. I've had Facebook, Google, and Twitter all require phone numbers when I've naively tried to set up bots against their services, though, which is what I'm guessing you're having trouble with here.
Try using incognito mode to create an account on google, it won't let you even though it says it's optional. However if you try and create an account in a browser which has a super cookie or google account logged in (or out) attached it'll be fine without one because I believe they are tying it to your repuation.
Re: Ask HN: Why are more and more websites asking for phone numbers?
#26[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: Why are more and more websites asking for phone numbers?
#27Phone numbers are more convenient in contrary to email: every individual has only one phone number, which hardly ever changes. They consider the phone number as unique identifier of a user. Many websites think that lots of users have multiple emails and thus maybe sign up twice. Again, it's only about convenience.
this really sounds like a 'common mistakes programmers believe about phone numbers' is coming to a future near us.
Falsehoods Programmers Believe About Phone Numbers
https://github.com/googlei18n/libphonenumber/blob/master/FAL...
Re: Ask HN: Why are more and more websites asking for phone numbers?
#28I don't know if it happens anymore but Facebook used to ask you to scan and send them a government photo ID like a passport. Absolute madness, one more step towards making real identifications on the internet a normal thing. Tech companies are pushing towards a nightmare web.
Re: Ask HN: Why are more and more websites asking for phone numbers?
#29If I'm selling something especially a service than most likely we will need to talk. Having your phone number makes this much easier to kick start.
Re: Ask HN: Why are more and more websites asking for phone numbers?
#30I'd suggest that you read about the Overton window: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window