Google+ has finally revered its real-name policy

When Google+ first debuted, it insisted that you use your real name on your profile in an effort to “create a community made of up real people” and reduce the trollish behavior often associated with the anonymous internet. As you might expect, it’s suffered some backlash due to this policy, especially for folks who wish to keep their online identities separate from their real ones. Over the years, it’s loosened that restriction by allowing folks to use their desired name on their profile pages plus eventually letting YouTube users use their existing usernames. Today, at long last, Google’s social network has lifted any and all name restrictions entirely, finally letting you pick whatever name you like. So if you’ve always shied away from Google’s social network because of its insistence on real names, you can now go ahead and sign up with any name of your choosing.

Google has backtracked on its “real name” policy for Google+, allowing subscribers to use any name they wish in their profile. Google both apologised for and defended its previous demand that users sign up with their actual names or face account deletion. Google admitted it has had “a lot of restrictions” on what name people could use on its social network, which excluded some would-be users. However, it also “helped create a community made up of real people”, it said. There are still some rules in place, however. Lewd names are out, and you may have to leave an interval of up to three months between username changes. If you try to impersonate someone else, you could end up with your account suspended as well. You will also still need to enter a first name and a last name. This policy came in for particular criticism in the past as being discriminatory against people who only have one name and cultures where this is common. An example is Australian journalist Stilgherrian, who only has a first name. He kicked up a serious fuss back when the social network was first founded, after having his account suspended for only using one name. In a rather contradictory motion, Google demanded he “use the name that [he was] commonly referred to in real life”, but also that he edit his name “to comply with [the company’s] policies” if he wanted his account reinstated. As a concession, the company has said that one of these names can be a full stop. Google said it hopes the change will make Google+ “the welcoming and inclusive place that we want it to be”.