Why Facebook's real name policy must end
Facebook’s policy requiring members to use their real name is unreasonable and bad for users. Here’s why.
The “authentic name” policy is a lie
Facebook’s stated policy completely contradicts their actual rules.
In 2014, Facebook’s Chris Cox stated:
Our policy has never been to require everyone on Facebook to use their legal name. The spirit of our policy is that everyone on Facebook uses the authentic name they use in real life.
But as of February 2015, Facebook only accepts legal name ID as proof.
Not everyone uses their legal name
Some people are better known by their stage name: Ringo Starr’s authentic name would be Ringo Starr, not Richard Starkey. “Mahatma” Gandhi’s first name is an honorific; his birth name was Mohandas. The name of programmer Moxie Marlinspike is an alias.
Native Americans often have tribal names. Immigrants may take an unofficial local name to fit in. Religious groups may give someone a new name upon entering holy orders. Some people are better known to their friends by a nickname.
Transgender people often adopt a new name to match the gender they choose to live as. Some people have multiple names or change their name for cultural reasons. Mitt Romney’s real first name is Willard. Alexander Siddig’s real first name is Siddig.
Some women use a fake name to avoid abusive partners or stalkers. Some women pose as men to avoid harassment. Children are warned not to use their real names online, and may want to use an alias. Human rights activists may want to avoid persecution. And some people have no legally registered name or just don’t have ID.
The policy causes more harassment than it prevents
Although Facebook says its real name policy exists to prevent harassment, it has the exact opposite effect. According to a report by the EFF:
Facebook doesn’t police names itself. It relies on reports from other users.
And:
There’s no question that the way Facebook’s system is implemented now is incredibly flawed and ripe for misuse. The enforcement mechanism has allowed abusive users to recreate the very online bullying the policy is supposed to prevent by going on reporting sprees.
Malicious users frequently abuse the system to report vulnerable or minority groups, including children, transgender people and native Americans. Facebook’s real name policy directly empowers users to commit this harassment.
Conversely, the policy does nothing to stop reasonable-looking fake identities with names like “John Smith”. Nor is it necessary to stop spam, impersonation or harassment, since these things are already against other rules and are easily reported.
The real victims of Facebook’s real name policy are not the bad actors Facebook claims the policy was created to fight, but normal users, especially minorities and the oppressed.