Facebook want mobile 'phone number

10_66

I don't use Facebook so haven't a clue about it, but know you techies will know the answer to this. A friend uses Facebook (to keep in touch with distant family), but when they tried logging on the other day, was asked to enter their mobile 'phone number in order that they could continue to access their Facebook account. The reason given was something about Facebook wanting to be able to confirm their identity. Is this a general requirement now, or would there be any other reason that they’ve been asked to do this?

Also how does giving your mobile 'phone number to Facebook prove who you are? Do they go the length of finding out who your ‘phone provider is and checking with them that the name used for the ‘phone is the same as that used with Facebook? If they do, it all seems a heck of a palaver.

brightonman123

can only think they NEED mobile phone, if you had already signed up using a mobile, then went online at a pc..

otherwise, opens up all kind of spamming potential!

10_66

brightonman123 wrote: »

can only think they NEED mobile phone, if you had already signed up using a mobile, then went online at a pc..

otherwise, opens up all kind of spamming potential!

I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you mean. I'm not at all techie and don't use Facebook, would you mind enlarging a little bit, please ?

brightonman123

on modern smartphones, you can setup an account and access FB while on the move..

if you later use a computer to go online, it may recognise this, and require additional ID as a safeguard..?

I would NEVER give them my phone number, if just using the normal web version though..

10_66

brightonman123 wrote: »

on modern smartphones, you can setup an account and access FB while on the move..

if you later use a computer to go online, it may recognise this, and require additional ID as a safeguard..?

I would NEVER give them my phone number, if just using the normal web version though..

They only use the web version, they don't have a smartphone, just a bog standard one. Without giving Facebook their mobile number, they aren't being given the option of gaining access to their Facebook account. What can they do? And what do people do if they don't have a mobile 'phone?

texranger

if you are not that techie then why not have your friend come on here as they will have more of an idea.

but lately i would not trust facebook, they have for the last few months suffered many hacks and have serious security issues. but as brightonman123 says the only reason they would request a mobile number is if they originally registered using a mobile otherwise they dont need a mobile number.

was this requested from the official facebook website or from a site they opened through an emailed link.

10_66

texranger wrote: »

...was this requested from the official facebook website or from a site they opened through an emailed link.

I think from just logging in, not from an email link, and they can't remember whether they ever registered with their mobile number but didn't think they did. They've since changed their mobile number, so this is why they were reluctant to enter the existing one as they didn't know which (if indeed any) had been registered in the first place, as if the number didn't match, then it might block them altogether. No idea how that would be sorted out.

bob_a_builder

make one up

Apples2

Ever since the inception of the Internet people have been warned not to emblazon the Internet with their personal details.

Along comes Facebook and all that changes, people enthusiastically throw every facet of their personal details up online without a second thought.

I'm not a facebook warrior for exactly that reason but I simply cannot see what putting your mobile number online has to do with gaining access to a website. You don't ring into Facebook, you connect through 3G,WiFi etc and log in with your username and password. All they see is a blackhole IP, not a phone number.

DevilsAdvocate1

bob_a_builder wrote: »

make one up

Must admit, I do this a lot. Companies want to know everything about you and you're only trying to buy something small. I used to argue saying that I did not want to give my information out. I now just make stuff up. It keeps them happy and I'm happy knowing they can't hassle me to buy other things that I don't want.

JamesK10

Mobile Phone number, your friend should be able to skip past that screen by clicking on "Home", because FB have just rejigged the interface. However if FB sends out a comformation email to an address which closes down automatically after 90 days like hotmail and yahoo, and you've let it lapse and that email bounces, then it would stop you doing anything.

If that happens, then get that account re-enabled to receive emails and it will accept that email address as a login again.

Otherwise yes make one up (but then write that down in case they want it as a login some other time) and change your birthday as well, they only retain the year of birth, no need to risk ID theft on FB's account.