Facebook may not be dropping its "real name" policy in the strictest sense, but it's definitely taking steps to prevent abuse of that guideline. It's testing fake name reporting tools that require you to explain why you believe someone is acting shady, whether it's identity theft or something less sinister. In theory, this prevents hatemongers from easily giving the boot to transgender people, stalking victims and others for whom a name change is practically vital. In short, it won't be possible to simply hit the report button and walk away.
Facebook makes it harder to abuse its 'real name' policy
Facebook is trying to protect victims of discrimination by requiring good reasons for fake name complaints.
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You'll have some extra safeguards if you're ever asked to verify your name, too. The test verification form asks if you're in a group that's more likely to face abuse, and will give you an opportunity to provide the specific circumstances that led to the name you're using. This doesn't guarantee that Facebook will always make the right call, but it should reduce the possibility that you'll get kicked off the site before you've said a word in your defense.
[Top image credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg]
