11–17 of 17 posts
:) Leave the phone number field empty and click "Next Step". It's an optional field, they just trick people to collect phone numbers.
Clicking Next Step then asks you to enter a phone number to either receive a call or text message for verification.
Ironically, google have stopped enabling me to create gmail accounts because my phone number has been used too many times for activation. Doesn't matter anymore, I self-host as much as I can anyway.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Clicking Next Step then asks you to enter a phone number to either receive a call or text message for verification.
If you list you age between 12 - 14, tgey will let you sign up without providing any other information.
Your phone number is anonymous. In the US, you can go to a store, buy a $40 prepaid phone with cash, and use Google anonymously.
Also, Google will periodically check to see if you still operate that number and will perform spot checks on the number, asking you to verify the phone again.