Prove email and phone are required in online services

2 pointsi_see_things3y ago9 comments

I'll pay you $160 if you can prove mathematically that the only way to offer online services without spam is by requiring people to provide an email address or a phone number. That would be an interesting result.

If this can't be proven mathematically and you are an online service then please answer: why must online services require users to provide an email address or a phone number to get service? Why is no other option offered to the user?

Why is it impossible for a human to use online services while not having an email or a phone?

9 comments

mattl3y ago

What would you use instead of an email address to identify a user upon registration? An email address is something most people have and its a workflow people are familiar with.

hitpointdrew3y ago

I think the point is NOT to identify users, but only to not have spam/bots. Unless it’s a paid service, users should not have to identify themselves. You can keep out bots with CAPTCHA.

i_see_thingsOP3y ago

Users should not have to identify themselves regardless of the service being paid or free. Because stopping spam and bots is possible without requiring the user to provide an email or a phone number.

Nobody cares about anything.

2 more replies

jaclaz3y ago

>Why is no other option offered to the user?

Name these other options, please.

i_see_thingsOP3y ago

One is the same option you used to signup for HackerNews: a new username. Not a pre-existing email or a pre-existing phone number.

jaclaz3y ago

I thought that an e-mail was asked also on HN, maybe it is optional?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

Prove email and phone are required in online services

2 pointsi_see_things3y ago9 comments

Why is it impossible for a human to use online services while not having an email or a phone?

9 comments

mattl3y ago

What would you use instead of an email address to identify a user upon registration? An email address is something most people have and its a workflow people are familiar with.

hitpointdrew3y ago

I think the point is NOT to identify users, but only to not have spam/bots. Unless it’s a paid service, users should not have to identify themselves. You can keep out bots with CAPTCHA.

i_see_thingsOP3y ago

Users should not have to identify themselves regardless of the service being paid or free. Because stopping spam and bots is possible without requiring the user to provide an email or a phone number.

Nobody cares about anything.

2 more replies

jaclaz3y ago

>Why is no other option offered to the user?

Name these other options, please.

i_see_thingsOP3y ago

One is the same option you used to signup for HackerNews: a new username. Not a pre-existing email or a pre-existing phone number.

jaclaz3y ago

I thought that an e-mail was asked also on HN, maybe it is optional?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse