> Twitter originally was done via SMS, that's why status lengths were limited to 140 characters. So, obviously you needed a phone number when it first started.

> Twitter originally was done via SMS, that's why status lengths were limited to 140 characters. So, obviously you needed a phone number when it first started. This isn't what we are talking about. We are talking about requiring users to "prove they are human" by giving Twitter a phone number and then entering an authentication code that they text to that number. It doesn't accomplish anything because I can get a new SIM card and a month of "unlimited" talk and text prepaid service for about USD 20(?). I didn't think of it much but looking back it is clearly a data grab.