I disabled the comments feature on this site years ago because far too many visitors were using it to either publish comments that had nothing to do with my commentaries or hurl insults at other readers (you know, the ignorant and juvenile snark that seems standard fare on Twitter and Facebook). Not to mention those who commented anonymously or under fake names because they didn’t have the balls to stand by, or the brains to defend, their comments.
Incidentally, anonymity is the lifeblood of Internet trolls. Allowing people to post anonymous comments is like allowing a cancer to metastasize.
(“More Websites Banning Public Comments,” The iPINIONS Journal, May 23, 2014)
In fact, social media are so rife with fake names and ‘catfish’ identities that chances are very good you have, or someone you know has, used them.
This is why I was so heartened to read yesterday that social media hegemon Facebook is trying to put a stop to this insidious practice.
Several days ago, a large percentage of individuals operating personal profiles on Facebook under pseudonyms, stage names, or any name not matching their legal name received this message when logging onto their Facebook accounts:
‘Your account has been temporarily suspended because it looks like you’re not using your real name… We require everyone to provide their full name so you always know who you’re connecting with.’
(Huffington Post, September 15, 2014)
Now if only Twitter and other networks would require the same.
Related commentaries:
Websites banning…