Twitter plans to only allow paid subscribers to use text messages as a two-factor authentication method to secure their accounts.
The social media company has said the measure will come into effect from March 20th.
Two-factor authentication, meant to make accounts more secure, requires an account holder to use a second authentication method in addition to a password.
Emmet Ryan - Technology Correspondent with the Business Post - says the move is a cause for concern:
"Undoubtedly, there's definitely a chance people are going to be less secure because most people are not going to pay 8 quid a month for Twitter and that's just a reality. And as a result, you know, those people are going to be more at risk of being hacked, because essentially then all that'll be required is your password to be hacked. Again, while not necessarily the easiest thing in the world, it isn't actually that challenging for hackers these days".
