Google+ will soon be allowing its few dozen active members the chance to proudly represent themselves with a nickname of their choosing, after slapping a restricting on pseudonyms and even going so far as banning some usually named users from the Facebook-troubling social network.
Back in June 2011, when the site caused its brief blip of excitement, Google promised it would restore the friendly-nature and personalisation of the social internet which saw the arrival of its initially exclusive network of Circles and Hangouts. But shortly afterwards a number of registered account vanished from Google+ and main man Vic Gundotra addressed this sudden action by saying that members can only remain members if they use their “real name”- no nicknames, alias or known-as monikers. The Senior VP of Social Business at the time likened this to “when a restaurant doesn’t allow people who aren’t wearing shirts to enter”.
With the strict ruling in place, many turned away. Returning to the safe familiar bosom of Facebook with tail tucked between legs and choosing to keep their identity in tact on Zuckerberg’s leading social net. Google has now listened to its remaining social users and has changed its tune regarding the name restriction.
You will still need to register using a real name, same as you do with Facebook, but the display name on your profile and shared posts can now be altered to feature an alternative name. For example Sean Carter would need to register for an account before being accepted and known on the social net as “Jay Z”.
Speaking of which, Google+ hopes that the social site will benefit from the changes with a new influx of “celebrity” draws from stars previously denied by the ban on nicknames.
In other recent Google+ news President of the United States of America Barack Obama will address his people in a live Q&A session hosted via the YouTube-based Hangouts on the social network on January 30th. Check out more on this story in the Gadget Helpline’s article – Here.
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Tags: alias, bans, Barack Obama, celebrity, circles, Facebook, google, hangout, name, network, nickname, president, pseudonym, Q&A, social, Vic Gundotra
