Google has been very strict on the names people used to create accounts on its social networking platform Google+, not allowing any accounts with fake names. However, recently, it announced a change to this policy of signing up with real names, and now it allows users to be able to use pseudonyms for doing so.
“Today, we are taking the last step: there are no more restrictions on what name you can use,” post on Google+ said.
Change follows Gundotra’s exit
Noticeably, the change came soon after Vic Gundotra separated from the organization after spending a considerable amount of his valuable time and serious attempts to make Google+ a success.
In a post on Google+, the company informed that initially it was made mandatory to use real names for signing, which has helped it to create a community, but there was a major drawback to this, as it prevented many people from accessing the services, who were interested, but did not want to reveal their true identities.
Previously, any announcement about Google+ was posted on the social network by any member Google team member, but for the first time we have an announcement coming from an official account of the company itself. The change from using real names to any name, also, indicates that people are free to anonymously make postings on Google+.
Google addressing user concerns
While Google has catered to the needs of few users many are not supportive of this move and feel that Google+ should continue with its previous rule of requiring original names for signing in. People are skeptical that posting anonymously will provoke to act out on the social network. This concern of the users has been addressed by the Google+ Chief Architect Yonatan Zunger, saying “Oh, don’t worry. One of the reasons this is safe to launch is that our troll-smashing department has gotten very good at their jobs.”
Google had been very rigid with its naming policy and it became a serious issue in the past, when the company thought of integrating Google+ with YouTube.
