Nicknames now allowed on Facebook

[frm]

Looks like using real names in groups (arguably their solution to "forums") isn't popular, so they introduced anonymous posting (unsure when that came about, but I know it was a few years ago)... now they're introducing nicknames.

The progression from real names in groups to being able to post anonymously and then now to nicknames so that anonymous users can interact in groups seems more like a regression to how forums are.

It's as if they tried to reinvent the wheel and it failed.

 

[Arantor]

Three thoughts:

1. Putting a real name on it doesn’t detract from how awful people can be in the way previously assumed about pseudonyms.
2. That the real name was a tag of an identity that could be used for marketing/targeted advertising but perhaps that’s less relevant now.
3. Perfect cover for disguising the AI bots they already announced they were adding.

 

[frm]

1. Putting a real name on it doesn’t detract from how awful people can be in the way previously assumed about pseudonyms.

It does to a great deal, especially when you're made to verify your identity because your account got locked.

2. That the real name was a tag of an identity that could be used for marketing/targeted advertising but perhaps that’s less relevant now.

For personal branding, sure. Some abused it with "branding" whereas its purpose was a real name, and constantly slips.

3. Perfect cover for disguising the AI bots they already announced they were adding.

They could've easily used real names. Nobody is in a phone book anymore. You can create a parasocial relationship with a name, but I don't know how effective that will be with a nickname,

 

[Arantor]

The whole identity thing… I have seen plenty of very vile comments on FB completely owned by the individuals posting them. They see no issue whatsoever in being blatantly offensive - but nothing illegal. (Just about.)

As for parasocial relationships with a pseudonym… more people know me as Arantor than my real name, for sure.

 

[CTS]

Ahhh the ol' facebook thing.

Yes I guess nobody read their eula agreement at Facebook.

Their AI already knows you well enough now that you can do niks and anons, its already widely understood that Facebook is highly intrusive on your privacy, and the only ones who may even have a right to complain are the humans that use it.

How did Jobs put it?...

If its free on the internet, then you are the product.

 

[fdk]

I gave up with Facebook many, many years ago. I only use it for work purposes now, on a work account, and I literally only post messages on a group and reply to messages.

Don't have a personal Facebook and haven't had one since 2015. The whole platform stinks and Meta is complicit in all sorts of abhorrent crimes because they can't be bothered to forego a portion of their profits to invest in proper safety & moderation features.

 

[Ravenfreak]

I like how all these social media platforms keep doing things that you can already do on forums. It's almost like forums actually work and these social media platforms have to imitate a forum! I'm hoping these platforms will implode on themselves soon.