Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Prisoners' Information Office: Four of his ribs were broken
Palestinian Prisoners' Information Office: Marwan al-Barghouti lost consciousness after a brutal assault by Israeli occupation soldiers
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli violations in the Gaza Strip have not stopped, and just a short while ago, fishermen came under fire from boats
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli occupation forces carry out a large explosion in the eastern neighborhood of the town of Mays al-Jabal in southern Lebanon.
Israeli media: Israeli political leadership decides to open Rafah crossing “as planned” and transfer aid to Gaza Strip.
Palestinian media: Three Palestinians were killed after being targeted by Israeli drone fire in the al-Shujaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City
Nicolas Maduro: The Palestinian cause is the most sacred cause for humanity, and we propose sending teams of builders, farmers, and doctors to Gaza to help the people
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Lebanon: IOF infiltrate Khallet Wardeh towards the municipality in the town of Aita al-Shaab, south of Lebanon.
Leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey sign a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Trump arrives in Sharm el-Sheikh

Twitter to charge users for SMS two-factor authentication

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 19 Feb 2023 08:14
2 Min Read

The social media platform will start charging users for text message account security.

  • x
  • The Twitter logo is seen on the exterior of Twitter headquarters in San Francisco, California, on October 28, 2022.(AFP)
    The Twitter logo is seen on the exterior of Twitter headquarters in San Francisco, California, on October 28, 2022. (AFP)

Users who aren't Twitter Blue subscribers now have 30 days to join the program or run the risk of having their SMS two-factor authentication disabled. Platformer's Zoe Schiffer hinted at the new policy from Twitter and CEO Elon Musk in a tweet early on Friday afternoon.

According to a recently updated blog post on Twitter's website, the news is all but official now. Even though SMS is a common form of 2FA, the article acknowledges that it can be easily abused. As a result, the platform requires a $8 subscription (or $11 if you use an iOS device) in order to use its worst form of authentication.

Read next: Too frequent-too big? Ad-free Twitter comes with costlier subscription

On the website, it is then advised to "consider using an authentication app or security key method instead" if you are not a Twitter Blue subscriber. That said, there are two options: do that or wait until March 20 when Twitter turns it off for you.

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:https://t.co/wnT9Vuwh5n

— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) February 18, 2023

Related News

US Congress probes Musk’s Starlink over Myanmar scam compounds

Musk announces Beta launch of Grokipedia, his AI rewrite of Wikipedia

SMS 2FA is one of the platform's most popular methods of authentication, but it is not required, as Twitter notes. Based on the platform's own transparency data, only 2.6 percent of users have 2FA enabled, and the vast majority (74 percent) rely on SMS authentication, according to Rachel Tobac on Twitter.

This Twitter 2FA change is nerve-racking because:
1. Only ~2.6% of Twitter users have 2FA on at all (it’s essential for preventing easy account takeover)
Of those 2.6%, 74% use text message based 2FA (https://t.co/WXuFydZk17)
If they don’t pay for Blue they auto lose 2FA on 3/20. https://t.co/LneQojvjbi pic.twitter.com/PgySF3Qyag

— Rachel Tobac (@RachelTobac) February 18, 2023

One major factor in why a business might place SMS authentication behind a paywall is the expense of sending SMS messages, according to Sean Hollister of The Verge.

Read next: Twitter offers free ads to lure brands back

Since the billionaire took over, it has been the plan to completely phase out SMS, and Twitter is in desperate need of cash. But it appears that Musk has at least for the time being found a way to make money from SMS.

Given that Twitter Blue subscription revenue is lower than anticipated, SMS authentication may be completely phased out for all users in the near future.

  • Elon Musk
  • Twitter

Most Read

Iran strikes secret Israeli-US bunker under Tel Aviv high-rise

Tel Aviv high-rise struck by Iran hid Site 81, secret US-Israeli base

  • Politics
  • 14 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
drop site

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

  • Politics
  • 13 Oct 2025
Illustration of fists breaking shackles, representing the liberation of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons. (Illustrated by: AL Mayadeen English/Batoul Chamas)

4 prominent Palestinian detainees to be freed: Who are they?

  • Palestine
  • 13 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
UK extends jet patrols over Poland as NATO builds ‘drone wall’
Politics

UK extends jet patrols over Poland as NATO builds ‘drone wall’

Thousands trapped in El Fasher siege on ‘edge of survival': Report
Politics

Thousands trapped in El-Fasher siege on ‘edge of survival': Report

Trump links aid to Milei’s midterm success, blackmailing Argentinians.
US & Canada

Trump 'extorts' Argentinians, links aid to Milei’s midterm success

Six foreigners barred as US polices speech on Charlie Kirk
Politics

6 foreigners' visas revoked as US polices speech on Charlie Kirk

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS