Yahoo's decision this week to require its users to have a Yahoo supplied ID has created a storm of resentment on the web.
Under the new program only Yahoo email IDs will be accepted when a person wishes to sign into Yahoo service like Flickr or Yahoo Sports, the company reported. A schedule for when the new rule will go into place across the board was not announced, but at least one Yahoo service is already off limits to outsiders.
The system being changed will stop Yahoo users from using their Google or Facebook credentials to enter Yahoo's world of online services. This is nothing new. Google has required this for years and before 2011, it was also Yahoo's policy.
Most of the venting against the change can be seen in the comments left on web stories covering the change. While some people were upset with the thought that they would have to create a new ID, others were offended by Yahoo's claim that the change would make accessing Yahoo simpler and more secure.
"The most recent idiotic move from Yahoo. They should not have allowed those sign-ins in the first place, but since it is a longstanding practice, cutting off many users from those logins will spur the mass defections that Yahoo has pooh-poohed," one commenter noted.
"Marissa Mayer will not stop until she has driven away every last Yahoo user. Finance and Mail have been disasters for end users, as are the little noticed changes to Groups and now Yahoo Android app is crashing my phone. I left Mail and Finance for Google and I have to suffer with Groups as an owner, but Yahoo is dead to this 15-year user," said another individual.
On the flip side, there are those backing the plan.
"Good move; I'm no pointy-hatter, but sharing login across platforms has always irked me: "Facebook wants to share your login, your friends, your friends' friends and your aunt's orange rose bush," No thanks," said a supporter.
Others pointed used other analogies to back Yahoo such as Ford doesn't allow Toyota keys to work in their vehicles.
Another sticking point with users is that this system is being instituted just in time for March Madness as Yahoo Sports Tourney Pick'Em is the first service to implement the new sign in process. So anyone organizing their office college hoops pool will have to make sure all the players have the right credentials. The sign up process should be relatively painless. Either obtain a new one off the site's home page or if you remember you sign in and password try and kick-start an old account.
This change is just the latest in a slew of new ideas brought into play by Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, who is a former Google exec. The site recently revamped the look and feel of its news section, including creating a more dynamic tech, food and finance sections, bringing in big names like David Pogue to attract readers and spending big bucks acquiring the blogging site Tumblr.
"Yahoo is continually working on improving the user experience, which includes our sign-in process for Yahoo Sports Tourney Pick'Em," a Yahoo spokeswoman said in a statement. "This new process, which now asks users to sign in with a Yahoo username, will allow us to offer the best personalized experience to everyone."
When completed, the move will level the playing field with Google. That site uses a closed garden approach requiring a Google issued online ID to utilize its services. There is a chance that users just might say no thanks and move along to another site that is not so picky. Opening up the sign-in process to those with foreign credentials was one of the reasons former Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz made the decision to allow everyone onto the site.
