Do not require a phone number to be a verified account
Do not require phone numbers to be a verified account.
I just tried to chat and because I do not trust twitch with my phone number, especially after they got all their data leaked, I couldn't.
I will not be giving it to you, this will quickly create a have and have not situation where people will be unable to join in with chats and thus leave your platform if they either do not have a phone or do not wish their phone number to be sold, given away, profited from or leaked.
Do Better Twitch!

-
GoodBalls commented
I to will not be give them my phone number.
The end of twitch for me.
I would ask EVERYONE to do the same.
They just want your phone number so they can sell it. -
CyberneticSusurrus commented
Given that phone-based verification is intended to inhibit undesirable behaviour, one would think that longstanding accounts without any history of infractions would be given the benefit of the doubt.
Someone who has used their Twitch account for years and years - and has not drawn Twitch's attention with misbehaviour in all that time - is surely not part of the problem this is intended to solve. -
ulumuluorc commented
I have no phone. Can't use Twitch-Chat anymore :(
Why? You do this?Twitch is a Computer/Browser Website, i see no reason why i need a mobile Phone Number for that? A safe E-Mail would do it.
-
liamizbackk commented
Im putting my phone but its not working! Please fix this fast
-
IncanFox commented
I live in New Zealand and I have a phone, AND don't mind giving my number, but i tried 3 times and the text NEVER got sent to me? I suspect it's trying to charge my phone plan, which is (always always) empty. That means it literally costs you money to talk in verified-only chats?? that's *********.
PLEASE fix this, Twitch.
-
picexolaf commented
Yep, this is very stupid; I don't even own a smartphone, I don't intend to; I have been using Twitch for years and chatting in channels that now require that I verify with a phone--I can no longer chat. STUPID.
-
omgdel commented
I don't trust twitch with my phone number from a privacy point of view. Twitch does not have a good track record for securing their data. Wont be chatting until this is gone.
-
JohnnyWayne689 commented
I want to leave this here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Twitch/comments/uzv33e/the_verified_chat_issue/
Seems like its either a bug or Twitch is testing waters on blackmailing peoples phone numbers from them by limiting their options to chat. Considering the responses we all got from the customer support, it seems to be the latter.
-
itsmissmiranda commented
I've changed my mind; require a phone number. Sick of the spam.
-
trekkiemage commented
Adding on to this - phone verification *can* be powerful, but it is not the end-all-be-all of security. MaximilienV is a longstanding valued member of the community I mod in with an incredible supportive history in Twitch Music. Blocking his account from commenting unless he attaches a phone number protects exactly no one. In fact I'd say it harms the Twitch Music community.
And, the fact that there seems to be exactly ZERO ways to appeal the decision is infuriating.
-
MaximilienV commented
I have been supporting streamers by cheering bits, gifting subs and subscribing to several of them, since the creation of my twitch account. I even have my Amazon Prime linked to it.
And suddenly, on May 27th 2022, I can't chat anymore on any channel across twitch without a verified phone number.After trying to contact twitch support several times, i only get the same automated response saying that, for chat safety reason, i have to register a phone number in order to be allowed to chat.
How can an account with my history of support can suddenly become a threat to chat safety?
The phone number verification was supposed to be an option for the streamers to prevent spambots in chat, not a mandatory step for the legitimate viewer who simply wants to participate in chat.
Do Better Twitch!
-
nomatterlore commented
Very agree! I just come from a centralized and autocratic country, suffering from censorship anywhere,only could access twitch by technique, you will not want to this **** goverment to know you received a SMS from a foreign democratic country.
-
JohnnyWayne689 commented
Since a few day ago I am now forced to verfiy my account with a mobile phone number. I can not chat in ANY stream, even if the forced authentication mode on the streamers side is turned off.
I don't know why they chose to do this to my account but this is absolutly intolerable, baseless and arbitrary. How can Twitch persume to be capable of protecting my personal data, if they can't even protect their core business data and even source code from cyber attacks. I will complain at Amazon directly if this is not resolved immediately.
-
MercuryBullet commented
I am reluctant to give out my mobile number again. I've spent the last couple of years hounded by spambots because it leaked off a supposedly safe site, both in email form and phone calls.
I will not give out my number online again, period.
Let us verify our accounts another way. -
haddos_ commented
I don't want to give my phone number to Twitch. Moreover, I'm subscribed, are my credit card details not enough already ?
Please stop forcing people to give their personal details at every turn ...
-
RollOfTheD commented
I think one aspect of requiring a mobile phone number in order to verify that isn't being highlighted is that, while the intent may be security, it's essentially a form of financial gatekeeping. If viewers are forced into purchasing a mobile plan, they will have less of a disposable monthly income to support their favorite Streamers as a result. Inevitably, this policy will lead to lowered viewership across the platform and lower sub counts.
-
DarkBloodWolf13 commented
Absolutely! Not everyone has a mobile, and not everyone that does want to link it. Account age would me much better imo.
-
MistDrae commented
Also, no one told me that I can only use my phone number once. I used it on an old Twitch account then disabled that account. Now, I can't access the said account and I can't use my phone number.. Been asking for help, but only bots are responding to me..
-
Fuzzy_Da_Panda commented
Here's an Idea. Stop forcing Mobile Phone Verification. Not everyone has a mobile phone. Not everyone wants to have a mobile phone. To force account verification through mobile phones is discriminatory. It is also a form of predatory marketing. (Cornering people get cell phone plans because you get a share of the money from verification.) There are many ways to verify accounts such as the Authy App. I am not going to go spend a few hundred dollars on a phone and a contract just so I can prove to you people that I am indeed the person using the account. Stop being greedy. Get better at managing your site.
-
Lunar_Umbra commented
SMS is a very poor method of second factor authentication on top of the privacy concern.