Facebook Requires Real Names, Upsets Some LGBT Users

[Carolyn Marie]

https://gigaom.com/2014/09/12/facebook-is-under-fire-from-gay-and-transgender-users-who-are-being-forced-to-use-real-names/

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Megan_Lynn]

wrong link

[Carolyn Marie]

Thanks. Fixed it!

Carolyn Marie

[tracy_j]

It may not be targeted as such, just that for market research purposes and operational intelligence both for marketing and security purposes the more correct information is the more valuable it is.

Facebook data would be more marketable if they could prove reliability and value of information!

Just me thinking big brother in a capitalist and security conscious world lol

Tracy

[Charlize]

Thanks for posting the link Carolyn Marie.

This does not upset me personally, as i now have only one identity that doesn't mean i don't remember the need for anonymity before i transitioned. It may help the advertisers to know that someone might purchase breastforms or binders but it might put someone's life in jeopardy. Of course we could boycott (or girlcoot) but i doubt that would help. Being careful about what we post might just be the best option.

I'm interested to see how this develops and what others have to say.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Guest Edina]

Though I do use my real name on facebook, I believe I started that account before the name change became legal (and I kept the female gender choice when the new ones came up). I can understand other trans folk who, unlike me, need to live online pseudonymously. It is the trolls and miscreants in this world who make many things that used to be so simple into a headache for day to day processes like shopping and banking etc. I am sure there are many catfish out there on facebook (men using fake names/profiles to scam or just get their jollies by friending transwomen). Obvious friend requests from catfish I have ignored since, with a couple of exceptions of friends of good friends, everyone I have friended on facebook I know in real life. Another transwoman among my FB friends has been posting numerous warnings about those who have attempted to friend and chat her up recently. It always upsets me when a bank or in this case facebook change policies that only make life for innocents difficult just because of a few bad apples in the bunch.

[Guest Mia J]

So are they going to ask millions of users to send in their drivers license or birth certificate? And who would be so stupid to give that information out in the first place? Sounds like a wonderful way for massive identity theft. I could not see anything in the article that pointed to an official statement from facebook.

I use my real name but am not about to send them proof if they require it. At this point I think it sounds like just another facebook rumor.

Mia

[Ravin]

This strikes me as bad play on the part of FB. I know people with multiple accounts so they can play online games with them. Go after those people. Go after people who put their four year olds on there.

I know plenty of people who are on FB under their SCA names because they're networking with others in the Society who know them IRL by that name, which is not their legal name. Some do this because that is the only reason they are on FB. Others keep separate accounts because they don't want to explain to Aunt Marge that the funny clothes really have nothing to do with being in a cult.

I have yet to hear of a SCA member being required to prove their identity.

Which suggests to me there is a targeting bias and FB needs to get over themselves.

[Guest Annutty]

I wont say my facebook name, but lets just say it is nothing close to a "real name"....and i haven't had any messages from facebook telling me to change it. So I don't know how substantial this "rumor" is, or if its even a rumor, or whatever, but I've heard people saying facebook is going to "crack down" on fake names before, and they will probably say it again. I'm not that worried. Besides, even if I did want to use my girl name before I legally changed it, it's not like its some weird name that would set off some sort of alarm.

Not an issue for me, and I don't think it will be.

[Carolyn Marie]

Somehow, I think this is much ado about very little. I'm not losing any sleep over it.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Melissa~]

Facebook has always been a real-name entity...of course it's always been unenforced. In an article perhaps a month ago one of the fakers of Facebook was finally removed according the Andrea James. I will assume that may have caused some hard feelings somewhere. On the other end of the spectrum there are the Lady Bunnys of the world, they are a very real public persons, and I really can't see a need for the "real name" to be exposed. Practical application is all that's needed.

[Guest DianeATL]

My Facebook is my real preferred name ;-)

[Guest]

My Facebook is deleted.

They constantly appear more flaky and whimsical as they try to maximize their revenues. What appears safe today isn't so certain tomorrow. I do miss the social networking that was their original motive, but don't miss the insecurity of being on a network with not-so-social motives.

Love, Megan

[VickySGV]

When there are 200+ other people with my REAL name, I am just not too impressed.

[Guest sydney]

In January 2013 I changed my name and gender on Facebook (6 months before my legal name change) and didn't have any issues. It just let me do it. However in March a transgender friend (FtM) changed his name (but it was an unusual name, where as mine was an obvious female name) had an issue. When they tried to change it, it said that it was not a valid name and to try again or contact Facebook to send a proof of name. They didn't change it and just started a new FB account with the name that was rejected earlier. (It let him do that, so go figure.) So there has always been some algorithm that checks for valid names. The article makes it seem that the policy is geared more for performers (drag queens) than transgender individuals, but it's still discerning. This creates a danger for Drag Queens and Transgender individuals (if forced on us who haven't legally changed their name yet.)

There is petition on Change.org (Performers Are People, Too) that this needs to be changed. If they want to know you legal name and let you display ONLY your preferred name, I have no issue with that, but requiring your displayed name to be your legal name is just plain stupid. Also many cis individuals go by nickname and not their legal name. For example my father using is first and middle initials (Adrian Lauren) and used AL as his name. Are they going to enforce this policy on them too???

Edited September 14, 2014 by sydney
link to petition deleted as a safeguard.