RL>  AT> I always feel like big tech wants my phone number, and I don't wanna
 RL>  AT> give it to them (even though Google already probably has it.)
 RL> 
 RL> I think the main thing is that we want some level of control over our
 RL> information.
 RL> 
 RL> Certain companies have a legitimate need for my phone number (ex: Doctor,
 RL> Dentist).  But others don't.
 RL> 
 RL> Some companies use your phone number as an ID.  Our local grocery store
 RL> uses it as your ID for their points program.  But if you don't want to
 RL> participate, you don't have to.

I try to give my old phone number in those situations, but then when I try to log to check my points or something, they ask "What's the code we just texted you?"

I used to get a lot of scam calls. Every day, every night. But then I changed my # to one with an odd prefix and that seems to have solved that problem.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2023/04/30 (Windows/64)