Facebook Revises ‘Real Name’ Reporting to Stem Abuse

Historically, it’s been virtually impossible to change a name on your account, but now, Facebook will guide you through a process that lets you explain your situation better so that its moderators can make a more informed decision when approving your name change.

Now, both those who report people using false names and those who are contacted for allegedly using names other than their real ones will go through extra steps that will essentially slow down the process.

The policy, which requires people on Facebook to use their real name, came under fire when drag queens and other LGBT community members were locked out of their accounts previous year.

“We recognize that it’s also important that this policy works for everyone, especially for communities who are marginalized or face discrimination”, the statement said.

Facebook said it has changed its systems to be more forgiving about uncommon names, hoping to reduce the number of people who have to verify with Facebook who they are.

The first policy change detailed in Facebook’s announcement is an improved reporting process for fake names. Views fall into one of two camps: that people should be able to use whatever name they want on the social network, or that Facebook is free to impose whatever restrictions it wants.

Currently, when a Facebook user’s profile has been challenged by someone for (1) not being a real person, (2) using someone else’s name or (3) “using a name that they don’t go by in everyday life”, Facebook requires the flagged user to provide proof of their legal identity within the week or else the profile could be terminated.

“When people use the names they are known by, their actions and words carry more weight because they are more accountable for what they say”, said an online post by product manager Todd Gage and vice president of global operations Justin Osofsky.

The social network bans anonymity and has insisted people use their birth names on their accounts.

Facebook said it received hundreds of thousands of reports of fake names every week.

People against the policy began to use the hashtag #MyMameIs to shed light on the issue and convince Facebook to change its policy.

That additional context will aid Facebook’s review teams to better understand why someone is reporting a name.

Facebook is also making things easier for people who have had their account reported.

“That’s why we’re continuing to make improvements in this area”.

In October, more than 75 human rights, digital rights, LGBT, and women’s rights advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights Watch, wrote a letter to Facebook asking for the rules to be changed.

The new tools will first be tested in the US, Facebook said, but will make them more widely available as they’re refined.