DJs: Facebook Will Allow Real Life Names

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DJs: Facebook Will Allow Real Life Names

Postby jon » Thu Oct 02, 2014 8:52 am

Facebook changes real-name policy, allows aliases
Reuters
October 2, 2014

Facebook Inc said it would change its policy requiring users to go by their real names on the social network, following outrage over the locking of hundreds of accounts, including a number belonging to drag queens using their stage names.

Facebook's product chief, Christopher Cox, apologized in a post on Wednesday and said the affected users could go back to using their aliases.

The world's largest social media network had locked scores of accounts in recent weeks, including hundreds belonging to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

"The spirit of our policy is that everyone on Facebook uses the authentic name they use in real life. For Sister Roma, that's Sister Roma. For Lil Miss Hot Mess, that's Lil Miss Hot Mess," Cox wrote, denying that the company's policy required users to go by their legal names.

San Francisco drag queens and a city lawmaker met with Facebook representatives in September to demand that the site change its policy of banning users from going by aliases online.

Drag queen performers, or men who dress in flamboyant female clothing for nightclub shows, usually use stage names that have no relation to their real names.

Performers say using their stage names on social media protects them from possible retribution from other employers, family members and stalkers. Many see their stage name as an integral part of their identity.

Peggy Sue, who has been working at Montreal's best known drag queen bar for five years, said last week that she hadn't been able to access her Facebook profile.

"In general, drag queens want to protect their family. Mine is open and accepts me but for many others it's complicated, that's why we prefer to use our stage name," she said.

The performer finally made a compromise and changed her Facebook name to Peggy Liberge, using her real last name. So far, the account is still active.

Facebook had said earlier that it would give users two weeks to adjust their profiles to display their real name or convert their personal pages into fan pages that allow the use of nicknames.

The debate over the future of online anonymity is roiling tech circles, with the outcome bearing profound implications for Internet use around the world.

Facebook encourages internet users to log on and carry out their digital lives with their offline identities.

But digital rights and privacy activists have questioned the company's motives, saying the push to get people to use their real identities online helps Facebook track user behavior and tap personal data so it can send targeted advertisements.

In July, Google removed restrictions on use of aliases on its Google+ social network, bowing to demands from users for privacy.

-With files from QMI Agency
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jon
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Re: DJs: Facebook Will Allow Real Life Names

Postby jon » Thu Oct 02, 2014 8:55 am

While I doubt that Red Robinson has ever been asked by Facebook for Photo ID before allowing him to be Red on their site, you will find some other DJs have had to revert to their birth name on Facebook.

Of course, many personalities, including DJs, are like Mel Blanc, and legally changed their birth name to the name they are known by. Mel was born with a surname of Blank.

Personally, I find the whole issue tinged with hypocrisy since Facebook years ago allowed impersonations of historical characters. Not sure about you, but I found it disturbing to receive a Facebook Friend request a while back from Todd Storz. The man has been dead for over 50 years!
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