Google+ Now Lets Users add Nicknames or Pseudonyms

Google+’s Common Name Policy initially stated that only real names and identities will reside on the young social network. In fact, Google started deleting accounts which violated the rules last summer. In response to this, popular blogger Robert Scoble, who goes with the online pseudonym “Scobleizer”, pressed Google’s Senior Vice President for Engineering Vic Gundotra about the policy.

As a result, the seven-month old social network now allows nicknames and pseudonyms for its users. In addition to nicknames and pseudonyms, the young social network also supports alternate, maiden, and other script names.

Google shared on Mashable that the changes of the Common Name Policy will only affect less than 0.1% of Google+ users. Among that small number are companies who are moving to Google+ Pages. The rest are just users who want to include nicknames on their profiles.

Adding a Nickname on Google+

To add a nickname on your Google+ profile, head on to your Profile or About page. Enter your nickname on the new field, and that’s it. Your nickname will appear on the middle of your actual name or at the end with a parenthesis. However, an option to show only your nickname is unavailable.

Using Pseudonyms for Your Google+

Meanwhile, using pseudonyms on Google+ is a little complicated. It requires evidences such as links or a soft copy of your driver’s license. For the users’ safety, Google said that all evidences will be destroyed once the account verification is complete.

However, this feature is only available for the “established ones.” As Google’s Vice President of Product Bradley Horowitz said, the new naming feature is intended for “people who have earned credit in other social systems and want to redeem that credit in Google+.”

This is Just the Beginning

While the changes in its Common Name Policy indicate that Google+ is listening, it’s not an awakening for them. Horowitz said:

“We care about identity and people being authentic on our service. We realize that what we have now is not the final destination either. This is a journey.”

The changes will make it easier for users to be found by their friends through their nickname. Moreover, celebrated online personalities can proudly wear their label on the young social network. On the other hand, many users still find this as a failed move because they believe that this is one feature that Google+ must have since its launch.

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