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You still need to have your 'Real Name' up on Facebook, but there's a new twist

Speed News Desk | Updated on: 13 February 2017, 7:23 IST

Facebook has announced that it is changing its controversial 'Real Name' policy. As it stands, Facebook's real name policy requires users to go by their authentic name on the social network rather than a pseudonym. If their identity is found to be fraudulent, the user can be suspended. These changes or amendments come after various groups protested this policy.

Two primary changes are being made. Firstly, Facebook will now allow users to provide additional context and explanation for the name they want to use while confirming their accounts.

Secondly, Facebook is asking users to give more explanation while reporting others for violating the real name rule to prevent it from being used as a silencing or harassment tactic on the social network.

The company hopes that this will dissuade people from flagging profiles unnecessarily, which leads to targetted users getting locked out of their profiles until they confirm their identity.

Lastly, Facebook is making these changes so that government-issued IDs aren't needed anymore during the confirmation process and provide a more transparent appeals process to those locked out.

Facebook has no plans to do away with this controversial policy. The policy changes are expected to kick in sometime during December.

First published: 31 October 2015, 10:48 IST