It feels like any platform that allows for one-way initiation of a conversation is bound to increase in spam as the platform grows in usage (phone calls, email, SMS, various social media, various messengers, etc.).
Do any platforms require that both parties add one another? (And/or allow for restricting an account to such a mode)
e.g. if user123 and user789 wish to communicate, then user123 must add/contact user789 AND user789 must add/contact user123. Until both do so, then nothing happens.
It's more work to legitimately establish contact with someone, but that seems like it pales in comparison to the effort produced by spam/scams.
Same thing with verifying identities. In order to actually establish proper contact with someone, you need to communicate with them via some outside means (ideally in person) in order to establish the connection. Requiring both parties to enter/scan some ID/code/whatever seems like it would only facilitate proper verification (though not guarantee it, of course).
I'm sure that I'm missing something, though. I assume I'm just not familiar enough with these platforms and that some/all of them provide such a feature. It's just odd to me that spam sounds like such a problem when it feels like the above solution would be highly effective and simple to include.
Do any platforms require that both parties add one another? (And/or allow for restricting an account to such a mode)
e.g. if user123 and user789 wish to communicate, then user123 must add/contact user789 AND user789 must add/contact user123. Until both do so, then nothing happens.
It's more work to legitimately establish contact with someone, but that seems like it pales in comparison to the effort produced by spam/scams.
Same thing with verifying identities. In order to actually establish proper contact with someone, you need to communicate with them via some outside means (ideally in person) in order to establish the connection. Requiring both parties to enter/scan some ID/code/whatever seems like it would only facilitate proper verification (though not guarantee it, of course).
I'm sure that I'm missing something, though. I assume I'm just not familiar enough with these platforms and that some/all of them provide such a feature. It's just odd to me that spam sounds like such a problem when it feels like the above solution would be highly effective and simple to include.