Meta, to the jot of many users, has begun experimenting with a new way for everyone to authenticate their accounts, which could help it save money on SMS charges, while still allowing for phone-based verification. This new process allows users to verify their details via a missed call, by tracking their phone activity.
As per Meta:
“We are enabling users to authenticate their accounts with a missed call, in addition to manually entering a one-time password (OTP) sent via other methods. After granting the following two permissions (1) call-log access and (2) call management, users will be able to seamlessly log in to their account without the need for manually entering an OTP.”
Please-Call-Again GPS
The process will enable Meta’s apps to detect when the missed call comes in, along with the details of that call, which then somewhat rids you of the need to answer, providing another means for users to verify their accounts without having to key in their password. As noted, this new process would add convenience, as well as further save on costs.
As recently highlighted by Twitter, when it announced the removal of SMS two-factor authentication for non-paying users, SMS verification costs the platforms significant amounts annually, while telco providers also charge them for every 2FA SMS sent. In Twitter’s case, said operational setup was supposedly costing it over $60 million per annum in additional telco charges. Hence, why it’s now scaling back its SMS 2FA access.
It may not be the grandest of updates, nor the most novel, but it is, in a way, innovative. If anyone can recall, this might be the first time a major platform utilized a missed call as a way to verify a user’s identity – which is perhaps the most creative way a missed call can be given any form of utility, at least for now.
The Wrap
Meta’s new option could provide us with a new way to avoid the reliance on 2FA and its associated extra charges. At the same time, it also makes it a little easier for users to log in based on an authentication process. The biggest downside is that it currently has very limited access. Meta says that leveraging missed calls for authentication purposes is currently only supported on Facebook Lite, and only in certain regions. Hopefully, it’’ be expanded in the future. Providing another option for users and the platform themselves.
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