Facebook is making improvements to its names process, which is a move that was shaped by several events.
In a post on the Facebook newsroom, the social network said that it is still committed to requiring users to have their real names on their Facebook accounts, as this policy prevents users from harassing others behind the guise of a fake name.
However, Facebook said that after receiving feedback, the social network will begin to recognize that the policy should work for all users, especially for those that are in communities that are marginalized or that face discrimination.
Facebook said that it is launching a new version of the names reporting process that requires users reporting fake names to provide more content to the report. This would provide Facebook with more information regarding the usage of the fake name.
Facebook added that it is launching a new tool to provide users with a channel to describe special circumstances when they verify their name on the social network, which will also help review teams to better understand the situation and to provide the user with more personalized support.
These changes were pushed into place by Facebook as different sectors, including the LGBT community, protested against the real name policy of the social network, as it has instead led to harassment and bullying instead of preventing them. In addition to the LGBT community, other sectors that were not in approval of the policy were Native Americans and domestic violence survivors, with all of them forming the #MyNameIs movement.
Eventually, Facebook chief product officer Chris Cox issued an apology regarding the social network's real name policy, promising that fixes were coming to how the policy was being handled.
The two changes to the names process of Facebook were created in response to the backlash that was received due to the real names policy, but the social network said that these improvements are only the beginning. Facebook said that in early 2016, it will be looking at ways to reduce the number of users that need to verify their names with IDs, while keeping the security of the website's users. Facebook also said that it will be continuing to make the experience more compassionate, with navigation to be made easier.
