Do you think the new Craigslist feature of verifying your phone number under certian conditions is needed? It seems that if you look on Google to search about the new phone verification process, you will not find a lot of information on the feedback of how this is affecting the postings.
I was just aware that I was affected when I posted in the Services section of my town ( I do small-time advertising ) that I had to give over my phone number before I continue posting. I do not find this to be bad; if anything it does seem to have a positive effect on the relentless spamming and proliferation of pseudo-illegal posts in the Casual Ecounters and Erotic Services Sections ( Sections that have received heavy public scrutiny over the past few years ).
Where Craigslist will go from here I do not know; I think I understand the need to create the verification to prevent spam and to place responsibility on the poster ( If I made a website for people to post classifieds ads and they are posting illegal stuff, I would probably want some security system to keep me from being liable too.). I do also understand the prevalent fear of internet security, transparency, and the use of public information.
I feel people who even legitimately post on Craigslist ( I post in the Creative Services section ) may have 2nd thoughts about placing their number puiblicly for the sake of posting. I also am wary of being flagged and getting my number blacklisted, which the former has occured numerous times. We’ll see how this shapes up, but for now I see promise, direct results, but a hint of not-so-good situations to come from this.
Tags: casual enounters, craigslist, craigslist phone verification, craigslist spamming, erotic services, human trafficking, phone verification, spamming
May 19, 2008 at 3:04 am |
I have to agree that something was needed to step the flow of spam, but I think they over did it and ended up punishing the whole for the sins of the few. Craigs list is pretty useless now with their new nazi policy in play.
May 21, 2008 at 9:34 pm |
It’s just another of several changes that CL is implementing to ramp up to formal accounts. Expect to see bank accounts or CC’s attached too just like you see for eBay sellers (BTW eBay has filed a lawsuit against CL).
Do the math:
1) all links posted are tagged with the “no-follow” code
2) we cant even comment on lists without getting flagged for “discussion” (the result is that when we try to warn others of a scam, the scam remains and those that help are punished)
3) Accounts are now required whereas before you could just verify a post by e-mail.
4) Phone numbers are now attached.
CL has claimed they wont sell out. Sure, they can keep the site forever, but there are tons of services out there that pay good cash for information on people and it does seem that CL is not data mining their member-base.
Why do all the great services eventually let us down?
August 28, 2008 at 5:35 am |
Dear Friends,
We respect Craigslist for the changes they did, now only experienced people can post ads on craigslist, we here to help those people who having problems posting. We helping fight flaggers, we do provide posting services, and we sell craigslist verified accounts created from different ip address and MAC address and guaranty to work. We here not for the money, we here to help you ……….
July 22, 2009 at 3:10 am |
I don’t like the idea, I have a reasonable expectation of privacy and as a CANADIAN subject to CANADIAN LAWS I would RATHER NOT have some strange websites based in CALIFORNIA keeping a database of my phone number where its subject to US LAWS