Posted on 08/09/2022 3:26:59 PM PDT by LTC.Ret
I have waited "patiently" to be able to get on Truth Social with my PC, but I have run into a problem. In trying to sign up, they require an email address with a return email from the one they send --- done, but then also a phone number where you return a code from their text. All stop.
I don't have, and don't want, a smart phone. So, I can't receive or send text messages. So, I can't sign up for Truth Social as it is currently configured. I can not find a work-around anywhere. Some other places will call the phone number and give the code verbally to be returned by email, but I don't find this on Truth anywhere, yet.
I sent an email to support@Truth explaining my dilemma, but so far no response.
Any ideas? Wait longer? Anyone here from Truth that can help???
Truth Social requires something called multifactor authentication to open an account which requires that you have a smartphone. I don't think it's enough to have a "flip phone" with texting ability but I MIGHT be wrong on that. It's been so many years since I had a flip phone that I couldn't tell you for sure.
A lot of Freepers here have a big issue with that (supplying their cellphone number to Truth) and I try to politely explain to them the reason why Truth has this requirement.
Truth Social is an alternative social media platform to the big tech monopolies like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram that have all conspired to silence President Trump and mute/cancel his supporters. It is still in its infancy but already has nearly four million active users and is growing every day as well as constantly adding new features. It is a great platform to get in on the ground floor with.
That all said, Truth Social has a lot of enemies that are trying to either shut it down or make it unusable for those who access it. So Truth Social has a lot of countermeasures in place to prevent bots (automated user accounts that mimic human behavior) and users setting up multiple accounts with which they could create mischief and generally spam the platform with garbage. We saw this with the @realdonaldtrump aaccount on Twitter. Within milliseconds of Trump posting there, there would be hundreds of replies spammed to his Tweet with the nastiest kind of garbage imaginable. This made it virtually impossible for anybody to engage Trump (or any of his well known supporters) in a meaningful way.
While it is impossible to prevent Truth users from posting nasty stuff to Trump's "Truths" without employing censorship tactics, Truth does do a great job keeping down the noise by restricting the accounts an individual can have to one and ensuring that all registered users are who they say they are.
They do this with the multifactor authentication that requires a cellphone. Now if Truth allowed email verification only, they would open themselves up to bots and spammers as it is fairly easy for an individual to have a hundred or more free email accounts and thus setup an individual user account for themselves with each one.
However, it is not so easy to do that when cellphone verification is thrown it. It would be prohibitively expensive for most people to have a hundred different unique cellphone numbers! So if somebody tries to open a second Truth account using the same phone number, they are flagged as trying to open a duplicate account.
So bottom line, it's not enough to just supply username and password to use your account. You must have a six digit unique code sent to your smartphone that you then punch in to prove you are who you say you are. This makes it impossible for somebody to log into your account on a different device and pretend they are you. Even if they knew the six-digit code you were given, that code expires within a few minutes and so the person trying to take over your account is out of luck unless they have your smartphone as well.
Can you use your daughter's (or somebody else's smartphone) to get an account setup? Yes. You should then be able to log in with just your username and password from that point on so long as you are on the same computer. However, when you get a new computer, you will likely need to repeat the process again.
Sorry for the longwinded post but I hope that helps and also explains why it has to be this way with Truth Social - at least for now.
There are websites that offer free temporary smart phone, phone numbers. Use of of those to get authenticated. One benefit of using a throwawy number is that all the political spam goes off into space instead of to your phone.
Buy an anonymous burner flip phone at Walmart or Target for a couple of bucks.
Pay cash.
Call me cynical, but I feel that the Big Box stores are now using facial recognition. So, wear a hat, sunglasses and a mask that covers your ears when purchasing.
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We’re on the same page here. Do not buy a ‘burner’ phone at Walmart - per detectives investigating crime (for instance, murderers buying bleach & tarps at Wmart), their cameras are the best. Find another place, smaller is better, pay cash. Definitely wear a disguise (nothing obvious). Since “face diapers” are still in with some people, a mask & hat would be good ... don’t wear distinctive clothes.
I cannot believe I’m even thinking this, much less saying it in America ... or is it Amerizuela now?
BTW, I actually use a ‘burner’ smart cell phone - have done so for years (first was a flip phone). $80/year, no contracts. Sometimes I need extra air time minutes or texting ... not expensive to get it. No account (although you can get one if you wish).
Sorry for my sexiest assumption LTC. At least I got you thinking in a different direction. See yo over there, I’m @tismerdelong. 🙂
As well……. Is this even America anymore? Great post. I agree
Who said anything about land lines? I don’t have a landline
No problem at all -— I did not see your comment as sexist, just amusing. And thank you again for your suggestion.
Thank you so much for all your explanation. As long as it is OK to use my daughter’s phone temporarily, I will do that when I see her tomorrow. Thanks again!!!
I don’t have, and don’t want, a smart phone.
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Nice to meet a “fellow traveler”. Really Ps me off that so many businesses/websites presume that everyone has a smart phone and that they require its usage to conduct business with them!
Thanks. Saving your post inre Google Voice.
I obviously am a male, by my name. I have a smart phone, but I hate it and never use it. Only have it because of my wife, who uses her phone all the time. So, it was just my perspective. But I thought U would throw in the sexist as a joke. 🙂
I live in a small rural Texas town and there is no way I can go anywhere incognito here, no matter the disguise. As a matter of fact, if I tried to disguise myself I would instantly be the talk of the town -— too funny!!! If I bought a cell phone here people I know would be stopping me by the next morning to ask me for my new phone number. I think using my daughter’s phone is my best bet for now.
And, the rogue Biden government might be able to track me without a cell phone, but I’m gonna make ‘em work for it . . .
Saving for truthsocial links.
Here’s a link to Truth Support. https://truthsocial.com/@truthsupport
I’m sure they’ll have a fix for that in the future. So you may want to get a cell phone, it takes time to streamline platforms. We do not even have DM’s yet.
Small town life ... it is kind of funny. Ah well, daughter’s phone will work, I’m sure ... if she’ll let you use it! :-)
That’s very thoughtful of you. Thanks. So...I just tried again for the third time, and still no confirmation email was sent. (yes...I checked the spam folder) If you want to let them know it may help. Thanks again.
Just wow
Are you on your computer or a phone?
Do you really want her added to the list homes to be raided at some point in the future?
I cannot understand how people live without a smart phone. I use mine for so many things that it would be like going back to the stone age if I didn't have one.
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