News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Twitter set to accept Musk's $43B offer – sources by heavyset_go on Monday April 25, 2022 @09:03PM (#31162818)
Anonymity goes directly against Twitter's advertising revenue model that requires targeted advertising. Platforms want to know who you are so they can collate data from disparate sources and appease their partners.

Twitter could verify that you're a human in order to let you use the platform, but they don't, they instead verify your identity. Google does the same thing, and Facebook, too. They want a phone number tied to real accounts with cell providers or photo IDs.

It's not just about bot prevention, it's about monetizing their user base.

Re:Twitter set to accept Musk's $43B offer – sources by wwweston on Monday April 25, 2022 @11:41PM (#31163702)
Of the three accounts I’ve created — one as recent as 2020 — I can’t recall any verification process which so much as required me to put in a real name.
Re:Twitter set to accept Musk's $43B offer – sources by heavyset_go on Monday April 25, 2022 @11:45PM (#31163719)
I had to give Twitter my phone number on a relatively new account after a few days. Couldn't do anything on the platform until I verified my phone number, and they wouldn't take a throwaway number.

At one point Facebook wanted my driver's license to use the platform after a while, so I just stopped using it.