Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Rant

why do some websites require a Facebook acount

Mar 8, 2016 5:08PM PST

This is my first ever rant. I was just on a Houghington Post website via a yahoo link and I wanted to reply to someone on the comments section but in order to do so I had to have a Facebook account which I don't have. I don't have any social website accounts. And another minor irritation is with Yahoo's webmail accounts constantly asking for my SMS and I don't have a cell phone. It seems that the internet has become a place for those willing to be forced to comply to the wishes of owners of various websites rather than a place for people to receive and send information.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
convenience
Mar 9, 2016 6:05AM PST

It is a bit annoying, but most sites see it as more convenient, so we don't have to remember more usernames and passwords!

- Collapse -
Unfortunately a lot of sites are like this...
Mar 9, 2016 11:59AM PST

So many people are on Facebook that it is just simpler for people who are logged in using FB to easily register for a site. Like legendofzelda says it is convenient and in some ways it may deter anonymous users from spouting off offensive comments--however I feel that if you are a jerk or offensive person in general, it doesn't matter if you are on FB or not, a jerk will remain one-- whether you are anonymous or not.

I don't like the social strategy of using FB only for registering as I feel it alienates those who don't use/chose not to use Facebook to post comments. I believe in having options to register for a site, however many sites are going into social registration as most people do use it.

As for Yahoo webmail account, I think you can you use your ground line phone number to register as well as SMS or cell phone number.