Do you verify e-mail addresses?

[tpearl5]

I've been debating over this for a while. I have a large chunk of users that have never verified their e-mail addresses. I'm sure a portion of that is spam accounts, but how many more of those accounts would've posted if they didn't have to verify their e-mail first?

Has anyone switched from verifying addresses to not verifying and noticed an increase in spam and or posting in general?

[Lynne]

We've never verified emails on my site. We also rarely get spam. We've just managed to install the right spam mods for our site (I think the right spam mods are probably different for every site).

[nexialys]

i always put email verification... first to avoid spam, i can say 90% of spam posters are using invalid emails to avoid checkback... second for authentication, as most of my forums are for intimate, parents, families and kids... and this is also good when you send Newsletters and re-authentication emails (reset password)... the member is sure he/she entered the right email for contacts!

[Sweeks]

Email verification off, Check 4 Spam installed as well as Enhanced Image Captcha and NoSpam! with two anti-spam questions has kept us spam free always :)
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[Shazz]

No, ticks off the user most of the time.

[Dingo14]

yep agree I found most members joining would leave and not come back when I had the verify email on, no point to it, like everyone said put the right mods in "no spam"

[Jaiibee]

With my niche, it's extremely important that the user provides 100% accurate information. A valid email address is a must in combating returning, banned members and for confirming that members have an email they can check.

I don't like email verification myself, however it really depends on your use. I dont think of spam usually, what triggers the spam thought is when I see a bot, and go "oops". I just installed NoSpam! and I've never had an issue since.

[Powlo]

Always use email verification maybe one day you would like to issue a newsletter to your members and if you had a ton of invalid email addresses you would therefore get a ton of bounced emails. I did it once and got around a thousand bounced emails, believe me when i say i got a telling off from my host. lol

[Alfa1]

Having tonnes of invalid email addresses is an easy way to get blacklisted on the spammers lists that email providers circulate. When your site is blacklisted, then your members will have a hard time receiving email from your site.

[Sweeks]

The main problem with not using the verification is when they use someone elses email address to sign up and they end up logging in as that user and making them look stupid.
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[Videx]

Of course I verify email addresses. That's the first of many intelligence tests required to use our forum.

I doubt a single productive user has ever failed this test. But maybe if you have a site more interested in huge membership lists, rather than good users, then it makes sense to turn it off.

[tldagent]

Yep, me too. I verify email addresses before they can post and no new threads for new members. Oddly enough, we no spam.