The Twitter app for iOS has started testing a ‘Sign In With Apple’ option that will allow users to access their Twitter account or create one using their Apple ID. As per Apple's own rules, an app must mandatorily add Apple ID as an account creation or sign-in option if it implements any other form of third-party authentication, such as Google sign-in, with the exception being education/business/enterprise apps or those that rely on a government or industry-certified ID for access. Twitter has been expanding the scope of methods that can be used to sign in to the platform recently, including software and hardware-based solutions.
Earlier this year, Twitter announced that it is allowing users to sign in to their account using multiple security keys. Moreover, the company also revealed back in March that it will allow users to access their account using a physical security key without enabling the 2-factor authentication (2FA) security protocol. Previously, users had to enable the 2FA method when using a physical security key, which meant the sign-in process required both the password as well as the key.
As noted by MacRumors, the Twitter beta app for iOS has gained ‘Sign In with Apple’ support. The app start-up screen now shows two sign-in options viz. “Continue with Google” and “Continue with Apple.” Apple ID-driven sign-in will offer users an alternative to using their Google account or their phone number when creating a Twitter account and subsequently accessing it on their Apple devices. However, the feature doesn't appear to be fully functional, which might not be that surprising considering it is a beta test. Apparently, only a small bunch of users are currently able to access the ‘Sign In with Apple’ tool. It is also unclear if the new feature will facilitate in-app payments via Touch ID in the future.
Benefits & Drawbacks Of Apple ID Sign In
For those loyal to the Apple ecosystem, signing in with their Apple ID is significantly safer than using a Google account to do so. The best part about the whole process is that Apple doesn’t use the actual email associated with a user's Apple ID for signing in to a service like Twitter. Instead, it creates a randomized email address and even allows users to opt out of message forwarding from the app or website. This approach is more private, as it prevents a service from accessing the email address, which can prove to be quite useful during data breaches. Just take a look at the Facebook data leak in April which saw details of over half a billion users dumped online.
Sign in with Apple also automatically enables two-factor authentication, and Apple also assures that data collection is limited to a bare minimum compared to other options such as signing in with a Facebook account. Interestingly, an official Twitter support page mentions that users can sign up for Twitter using their Apple ID, but the functionality does not appear to be available just yet. Linking the new support with Touch or Face ID might allow transactions for paid features such as Twitter Blue subscription in the foreseeable future.
While signing in with Apple has its perks, there are a few drawbacks as well. When users sign up for a service such as Twitter using their Apple ID, they aren’t required to add further details or even set a password — their Apple ID handles the authentication process on their registered device. However, if a user ever feels like changing their details, such as their registered email address or password, they will have to enter their password, which they don’t have if the account has been created using an Apple ID. Not to mention, the two-factor authentication process for Apple ID sign-in for users who only own a single Apple device still relies on the SMS method, which is not the most secure solution out there.