Twitter is adjusting its two-factor authentication policy, a move which could impact small or micro businesses who don't have a social media team and who rely on the platform themselves to promote their business.

Twitter officials have announced that SMS 2FA will be disabled for users that have not subscribed to Twitter Blue, but the platform is still offering the ability for users to utilise other forms of 2FA.

Accounts that are not subscribed to Twitter Blue, or profiles not equipped with the new blue verification tick, have until March 20 to change from the SMS-based 2FA method to another authentication application of their choice such as Microsoft authenticator or Google authenticator.

Only Twitter Blue subscribers can use text messages as their two-factor authentication method after this date.

Non Twitter Blue subscribers - and that’s a large percentage of users - who have not made the proactive transition to an alternative 2FA method will have their 2FA disabled.

This could pose problems for small or micro businesses who rely on the platform to promote their business themselves. Larger companies may have a social media team or manager in place who will be aware of this change. Smaller businesses or micros may not be aware, and therefore their SMS 2FA could be disabled.

With that, this message - or warning - should be shared to ensure all small business owners are aware of the adjustment so that they can implement a change if necessary.

This change was prompted after Twitter CEO Elon Musk stated that Twitter are being scammed $60 million annually by phone companies, due to fake 2FA SMS messages.

Despite a clear motive to implement this policy to increase a profit margin, Elon Musk has further backed the decision stating that the use of authentication applications is free and is also more secure than SMS-based methods.

Whilst many have criticised Musk for once again tampering with the platform and infuriating yet more Twitter users, the publicity generated from this policy change should at least convince more users to adopt the 2FA security precaution via an authenticator app and increase their online profile security.

Reporting

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