6 ms·

On another note, I tried to make a throwaway on `old.reddit.com`. I couldn't find a way to make an account without using an email. I had to manually type in `ol

On another note, I tried to make a throwaway on `old.reddit.com`. I couldn't find a way to make an account without using an email. I had to manually type in `old.reddit.com/register` to get to a form that would let me not type in an email and even then it wasn't obvious that the email wasn't required.

n4bz0r 4y ago
I would've never guessed it's still possible to create an account without using an email or a phone on any site in 2022. Makes me wonder, why do they keep the functionality? Did they forget about the page?
- grumple 4y ago
  Throwaway accounts that can't be easily linked to the poster are essential to a number of reddit communities.
- mdp2021 4y ago
  > I would've never guessed it's still possible to create an account without using an email or a phone on any site in 2022 ... why do they keep the functionality? Is this a joke? Participation is assumed to be only on the basis of anonymity. If the baker requested your name, there would be something very wrong around your parts. Intrusive requests would mean refusal of participation.
  - sofixa 4y ago
    It's not intrusive to ask for an email. It's a slight barrier against spam (trivially bypassed but still) and of course it's mandatory for resetting accounts, informing users about stuff (like Terms of Service changes). I honestly cannot remember the last time a website let me register without an email.
    - mdp2021 4y ago
      I can read one possible such «time» one click away (on your username). It is not intrusive only if you can give a random address. It would be intrusive if all you had available was an address already used for other services. It is intrusive to ask you for, or coming to know, your name.
- procavia 4y ago
  You don’t need an email to create a HN account last I checked
Sakos 4y ago
If you pay close attention, you might notice that the email address field isn't required on the old.reddit.com signup popup. Press next without filling it in and you get the username/password part of registration.
- hddqsb 4y ago
  This completely unintuitive trick also works on reddit.com.
  - tablespoon 4y ago
    > This completely unintuitive trick also works on reddit.com. Honestly, it's not so much of a trick, but that the form is a dark pattern. IMHO, they probably really, really want to require email addresses to register, but are trying to avoid the backlash from power users (aka their content source) that would happen if there wasn't a workaround. Every time someone gets ticked off about this, there's probably a comment within 5 minutes with instructions, and all outrage energy drains away.
    - hddqsb 4y ago
      Agreed (in fact I referred to it as a dark pattern in another comment). @grumple pointed out that throwaway accounts that can't be easily linked to the poster are essential to some reddit communities, which may play a part in why this feature is still available.
  - Sakos 4y ago
    Oh, interesting. Then it's just mobile where you can't skip it.
    - hddqsb 4y ago
      They appear to be A/B testing the email requirement. I tried reddit.com on desktop again just now, and in some sessions it lets me skip the email but in others it says the email is required.
croutonwagon 4y ago
That must be a recent change. Because at least as recently as early this year, you could just click "continue" while leaving the email field blank and create an account.
- hddqsb 4y ago
  It's still possible for me, I think @NowhereMan just didn't realise the email field could be left blank. Dark pattern working as intended, most likely.
  - hddqsb 4y ago
    EDIT: They appear to be A/B testing the email requirement, at least on reddit.com (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32438251#32448986 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32438251#32448986).
haunter 4y ago
Just tried and made an account without email. Just click on next. And there is also a signup button, didn't have to go for any special page

n4bz0r 4y ago

I would've never guessed it's still possible to create an account without using an email or a phone on any site in 2022. Makes me wonder, why do they keep the functionality? Did they forget about the page?

grumple 4y ago
Throwaway accounts that can't be easily linked to the poster are essential to a number of reddit communities.
mdp2021 4y ago
> I would've never guessed it's still possible to create an account without using an email or a phone on any site in 2022 ... why do they keep the functionality? Is this a joke? Participation is assumed to be only on the basis of anonymity. If the baker requested your name, there would be something very wrong around your parts. Intrusive requests would mean refusal of participation.
- sofixa 4y ago
  It's not intrusive to ask for an email. It's a slight barrier against spam (trivially bypassed but still) and of course it's mandatory for resetting accounts, informing users about stuff (like Terms of Service changes). I honestly cannot remember the last time a website let me register without an email.
  - mdp2021 4y ago
    I can read one possible such «time» one click away (on your username). It is not intrusive only if you can give a random address. It would be intrusive if all you had available was an address already used for other services. It is intrusive to ask you for, or coming to know, your name.
procavia 4y ago
You don’t need an email to create a HN account last I checked

Sakos 4y ago

If you pay close attention, you might notice that the email address field isn't required on the old.reddit.com signup popup. Press next without filling it in and you get the username/password part of registration.

hddqsb 4y ago
This completely unintuitive trick also works on reddit.com.
- tablespoon 4y ago
  > This completely unintuitive trick also works on reddit.com. Honestly, it's not so much of a trick, but that the form is a dark pattern. IMHO, they probably really, really want to require email addresses to register, but are trying to avoid the backlash from power users (aka their content source) that would happen if there wasn't a workaround. Every time someone gets ticked off about this, there's probably a comment within 5 minutes with instructions, and all outrage energy drains away.
  - hddqsb 4y ago
    Agreed (in fact I referred to it as a dark pattern in another comment). @grumple pointed out that throwaway accounts that can't be easily linked to the poster are essential to some reddit communities, which may play a part in why this feature is still available.
- Sakos 4y ago
  Oh, interesting. Then it's just mobile where you can't skip it.
  - hddqsb 4y ago
    They appear to be A/B testing the email requirement. I tried reddit.com on desktop again just now, and in some sessions it lets me skip the email but in others it says the email is required.

croutonwagon 4y ago

That must be a recent change. Because at least as recently as early this year, you could just click "continue" while leaving the email field blank and create an account.

hddqsb 4y ago
It's still possible for me, I think @NowhereMan just didn't realise the email field could be left blank. Dark pattern working as intended, most likely.
- hddqsb 4y ago
  EDIT: They appear to be A/B testing the email requirement, at least on reddit.com (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32438251#32448986 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32438251#32448986).

haunter 4y ago

Just tried and made an account without email. Just click on next. And there is also a signup button, didn't have to go for any special page