[Sebb767]

> Its more likely that they just want the number for Multi-factor authentication.

You can do that with an app or an U2F key. You don't need a phone number for that and, in fact, SMS-based 2FA is mostly discouraged by now due to sim swapping attacks.

So it boils down to avoiding sock puppets (most likely IMO) and to collect your data (which is something nice to get on top).

[indrora]

The reason for having SMS-based 2FA as a default is that it's At least something.

Adding a U2F token and having SMS as a backup means that you don't have people locked out because their yubikey failed -- which happens.

Discord is trying to solve some of the bootstrapping problems that arise from "oh fuck my computer and phone were both stolen" -- which, again, happens.