At this point, if it’s on a phone app, it probably doesn’t matter. They have your number.

I mean, they also were developing usernames five years ago AFAIK. Adding usernames for everyone was the hard, but necessary step they finally managed to do. Only now is it possible to make accounts that are discoverable AND aren't tethered to phone numbers. I'm assuming with passkeys/TOTP(?)

How's it easy?

Not the technical part (which definitely looks as easy as just dropping a requirement), but the spam/abuse prevention part.

Cannot decrypt message

As someone who uses matrix and runs a matrix server, matrix fucking suuuucks jfc why are so many privacy tools soooooo bad at what they do on so many levels like wtf the proto the servers the clients the ux the metadata issues like so much wrong

Edit: and if anyone tells me to use XMPP I'll slap them

The article says their main reason is spam/abuse, as requiring a phone number adds some sort of gate to lessen that. Emails are easier to create en-masse. I don’t agree with using phone numbers either, I’m just relaying their reasons.

I would guess the sudden influx of massive amounts of traffic would force them to charge for the service, and they don't want to do that. Requiring a phone number, while invasive to some, does cut down on a tremendous amount of automated/bot/spam traffic.

I think only SimpleX has asynchronous messaging

mobile numbers require government identification in many countries. But yeah, not seeing an easy solution to the spam problem

simplex doesn't require phone numbers or emails to sign up.

instead you need to scan codes for a trust. it's actually everything I wanted in a messenger. well...I wish they had gifs like telegram.