Gmail registration now requires scanning a QR code and sending a text message

Re:Gmail registration now requires scanning a QR code and se... by ymolodtsov on Monday May 11, 2026 @03:49PM (#48099793)

If you haven't created a Gmail or an Instagram account in a while you might be surprised how aggressive it is. For instance, try doing this without verifying your phone.

Both can ban you right away because they had to ramp up their anti-spam protections. Pretty much everyone already have an account, so most people creating new ones are just that, spammers.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Gmail registration now requires scanning a QR code and se... by tintor on Monday May 11, 2026 @03:55PM (#48099843)

Or they are kids / young people, who didn't need email before, and now need it for school / college.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Gmail registration now requires scanning a QR code and se... by ymolodtsov on Monday May 11, 2026 @04:07PM (#48099991)

Yes but they're almost surely in the minority by now.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Gmail registration now requires scanning a QR code and se... by v20 on Tuesday May 12, 2026 @03:00AM (#48105116)

I found it curious how hard it is to create a Facebook account now, especially after struggling so much to get an old account deleted years ago.

These large companies seem to be at the point where they don't want any new users anymore. Or at least they can afford to lock some people out.

We should be way more vocal about this so the idea that "everyone has / can make a (google|microsoft|facebook|whatever) account" dies out.

[ Parent | on HN ]