Facebook is currently testing out new and improved ways in their 'Real Name' Policy, and has announced that changes in the identification process of the biggest social media platform will roll out this December.
The present 'Real Name' Policy of Facebook requires users to use their legal name verified by government-issued IDs or credit cards when using their services. Other Facebook users also have the ability to report accounts with 'fake' names that will cause the account to be shut down.
There will be two changes in the new 'Real Name' Policy of Facebook.
First, users who don't use their real names in Facebook and who need to 'confirm' their accounts can now be given space to explain their situation to Facebook.
"This should help our Community Operations team better understand the situation," stated the company in a letter. "We want to make it easier for people to confirm their name if necessary."
Letter from Facebook's Alex Schultz by Alex Kantrowitz
The second change in their 'Real Name' Policy will require users who flag other accounts under the policy, to explain to the company why they are reporting the account. This change is made to lessen Facebook users who use the present 'Real Name' policy as a weapon to shut down other Facebook accounts.
Facebook said that it will still stand firm in their 'Real Name' Policy to keep their social media website safe despite its growing opposition.
"When people use the name others know them by, they are more accountable for what they say, making it more difficult to hide behind an anonymous name to harass, bully, spam or scam someone else," Schultz said.
The 'Real Name' Policy of Facebook has gathered a lot of opposition. An open letter to Facebook was released by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Human Rights Watch, the Gay-Straight Alliance Network, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, saying that the policy is 'broken' and needs to be fixed.
The open letter is posted in the Electronic Frontier Foundation.