Social Media Phone Number Obfuscation Using Logical IDs
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of mobile phone numbers as identifiers in social media and instant messaging platforms poses security risks such as identity theft and hacking, leading to user hesitation in sharing their numbers, which can decrease engagement and productivity.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a logical ID (LID) system where server-generated unique IDs replace phone numbers for user identities, managed through privacy settings and end-to-end encryption to ensure secure communication without exposing actual phone numbers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If phone numbers are used as user identifiers in social media platforms, then user identification and communication are simplified, but security risks such as identity theft and hacking increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that acts as a mediator between users and the social media platform. Phone numbers are verified and registered through this intermediary layer, which then issues unique user identifiers (UIDs) that can be used within the platform without exposing the actual phone numbers. This intermediary mechanism maintains security while enabling simplified user identification and communication.
2Reliability
If phone numbers are required for registration, then user verification is ensured, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the phone number from the user profile data that is visible to other users. While phone numbers are still collected and verified for registration purposes, the actual phone number is separated from the user's public identity. Instead, a anonymized unique identifier is displayed to other users, effectively taking out the sensitive information while maintaining verification functionality.
3Productivity
If actual phone numbers are displayed to other users, then direct communication is facilitated, but security risks and harassment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy or representation of the phone number in the form of a unique user identifier (UID) that functions similarly within the platform but does not reveal the actual phone number. This copied identifier enables direct communication through the platform's messaging system while protecting users from harassment and security risks associated with exposing real phone numbers.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and storage media for obscuring a user identifier on a social media platform are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: register a client device based on a user identifier; generate an internal supplemental identifier associated with the user identifier; receive a confirmation of the SMS message from the client device based on the user identifier; implement the internal supplemental identifier between client-side transactions and server-side transactions; and generate a display name associated with the internal supplemental identifier.