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Fact or Fiction: Users need to use their Real Name on Facebook?

Zenbane
MVP
MVP
This discussion is aimed to assist those of you who are willing to link a Facebook Account with your Oculus VR account but may have some reservations and/or concerns.

It seems that there are three primary categories of users in this situation:
  • Those who already use Facebook regularly, and have already connected it to your Oculus VR account.
  • Those who do have a Facebook account, but would rather create a new alternate account to use for Oculus VR.
  • Those who do not have a Facebook account, and are willing to create one for Oculus VR but have privacy concerns.

Obviously, people in the first category have next to nothing to worry about in this situation. All of this is just... business as usual.

While people in the second category may be concerned that an alternate account with be deactivated/deleted/banned. and people in the third category might not want to use their real names, but are also concerned that it would result in an account closure.

For starters, here is the official policy around Facebook's Community Standards:
https://www.facebook.com/help/975828035803295

A few things to keep in mind from my perspective as a 14 year Facebook user:
  • Facebook is very flexible and understanding when it comes to strict enforcement of its policies. 
  • The policies and standards are meant to serve as a baseline to reinforce good behavior and limit any liability Facebook could inherit from cyber bullies.

If you want to get an idea of what Social Media life looks like without these policies, go take a gander at Twitter, or read the comments section on YouTube under a video over the Pandemic or your favorite social norm topic. One minute you're researching the latest trends in remote workplace tools, the next minute you're entangled in a text-based brawl with two strangers named Boing_Boing_Duck and Tinkelstien.

Another good example is reddit. There are plenty of times where redditors tracked someone down and exposed real life details about them. I won't link to any of those stories here since they typically involve some controversial topics where this type of exposure was warranted (ie you are happy reddit did it), but I think people fail to realize how easy this type of thing is to do. And regardless of how you may feel about Facebook, or Mark Z., personally, they do try to protect users privacy from other users; and if you get threatened or harassed by another user, Facebook can, has, and will get law enforcement involved to remedy the situation asap.

But I digress.

If you already have a Facebook Account and want a second account... yes, you can do that. While it is, technically, against Facebook's policies; Facebook also understands what they are imposing with this Oculus account merger. And Facebook is always working to update their standards and guidelines; so don't be surprised to find new standards and guidelines that help make this situation less daunting.

Using myself as an example, I have 3 Facebook accounts that are active. One of them has been active since 2006. The second one was created around 2014. Both of them use my real name (first and last name), and real pictures of myself. I ended up deactiving the first one, but I can still log in any time I want to reactivate it. I've been in this situation for 6 years now, and Facebook has never once questioned me, contacted me in any way, or caused problems for either of my accounts. The only thing they did was recognize me right away and started suggesting that I add all the friends from my original account lol.

My third account is for the Oculus VR "Zenbane" account. And Facebook has been accepting of my activity. At least so far!

If you use a VPN and you have no problem spinning up a new Email Address; then as long as your intentions are good, you should have zero problems with a VR specific Facebook account. The only way you may encounter issues is if you start using your FB Account to attack other people.

For those who do NOT have a Facebook account, you need not worry too much:
You do NOT have to use your real name.

For starters, I do not use my real name on  my third Facebook account. I don't even use a VPN or proxy! Not that Facebook would care, since Facebook has no idea how many members of a household you may have. Facebook is quite used to seeing multiple accounts coming from the same IP address.

Aside from my own experience, here are things I see all the time:
  • Friends closing one account, and then starting up a new one under a new name. I see this the most with those friends of mine who tend to go through a dramatic "breakup" every other year lol. I end up getting a friend request from a name I've never heard of, and no profile picture. I don't accept it, thinking it's just a weirdo. But then they message me saying, "psst, it's me. I'm in hiding." And then I'm like, "Seriously? Another breakup?!"
  • Friends who fall in love and end up creating a Joint Account with their new boo. It would be like if me and Nalex were on Facebook. Him under Nalex, me under Zenbane. And then we fall in love and create a third account: LexyZeny. Filled with pictures of all our travels and escapades.

So this leaves the question... what if you create an account without using your real name, but then later you have to prove your identity? Well that is something to keep in mind for sure. If you plan to avoid using your real name... then  make sure you have at least 3 people on your friends list who are willing to act as a reference!

Here is a screenshot I took today, by going through the account reactivation process for my 2006 FB Account (I edited portions for privacy):

fpudn20u0wrs.jpg


Although, for those 100% determined to run solo with a Facebook account, you could just create a total of 4 FB Accounts, and act as your own "3 friends" lol.

This is very important, though. Because if you do not plan for this for account recovery purposes, then you will have to provide Facebook with other legal forms of identification. Keep in mind that this doesn't mean you have to use your real name. You can still be a Jon Doe on Facebook and submit them your Tod Smith identification. You may have to explain why you aren't using your real name; at which point just take good 'ol snowdog's advice and let them know you are concerned about stalkers. But at this point, Facebook will have a legal document on file for you.

All-in-all, I have been able to successfully use 3 different FB Accounts over the span of 14 years without any issues, and without having to submit any legal documents to Facebook, or engage in any other concerning activity to prove who I am.

Trust me, Facebook already knows who you are. Your Internet Service Provider is telling them. Your cellphone company is telling them. Facebook has satellites in space that can see you.

If privacy is truly your utmost concern, then disconnect from it all and live "off the grid." Otherwise... kick back, relax, and enjoy some VR.
 🙂 
134 REPLIES 134

PocketDeuces
Honored Guest
I don't deny anyone else's anecdotal accounts, but mine is less optimistic. Before deactivating my account 3 years ago, 3 of the 4 fake name accounts I can remember from groups I was a part of did get forcefully shut down. They weren't close personal friends or anything, so I wasn't aware of details, but they weren't troublemakers or anything, so the fake name seemed to be the problem.

So while making a fake account might work, I'm personally skeptical.

Anonymous
Not applicable

Zmidponk said:


Mradr said:

2) Whatever the FB requires (in this case, that you fill in the correct information) - aka you must use your legal full name in places where it is required - you must do so. Failing to do so can get your account ban/remove at any time.


So I take it there's been no details of any exceptions to that, like people who've been on Facebook for 14 years, for a totally random example, just completely off the top of my head?


I am sure there is exceptions. I am not saying there isnt - I am just saying where FB requires it - you must do it. At least that is the stance from FB. Of course I am sure there is exceptions to anything, but considering they will also have information on your CC - I assume it has to match up to your CC as well to some degree. My understand there are only a few places where this is "required" to happen for legal reasons. Using a fake name for the sake of a fake name could get you ban/remove if the need arises. With that said - that is soo open and unclear when that could happen - that it be hard to guess. With that said - the result could be problem if that happens as there will be no way to fight said action against your account.

wuzp
Rising Star

Mradr said:
 I am sure there is exceptions. I am not saying there isnt - I am just saying where FB requires it - you must do it. At least that is the stance from FB. Of course I am sure there is exceptions to anything, but considering they will also have information on your CC - I assume it has to match up to your CC as well to some degree.


That of course assumes they require the CC to be "yours."
  • You could be less than 17 years old.
  • You could be a "kept spouse," who depends on their significant other to make purchases for them.
  • You can get a second CC from your bank with whatever (within limits) name you want on it.

Zenbane
MVP
MVP

Zmidponk said:


1)  Yes, I said that Facebook can make exceptions to their own rules as and when they choose.



Which means you agree with me that Facebook is flexible in how it applies its rules.


2)  You said that I contradicted myself by saying that a rule is a rule, then saying that Facebook can make exceptions to their rules if they choose.  

Yes, you very much contradicted yourself, as seen with your 2 quotes below:
  • "It's either allowed or not allowed. "
  • "Facebook can, if it chooses, make exceptions."

If Facebook  makes an exception, by allowing something that they say is not allowed, then clearly they are being flexible.

You're welcome.  B)

Zenbane
MVP
MVP


I don't deny anyone else's anecdotal accounts, but mine is less optimistic. Before deactivating my account 3 years ago, 3 of the 4 fake name accounts I can remember from groups I was a part of did get forcefully shut down. They weren't close personal friends or anything, so I wasn't aware of details, but they weren't troublemakers or anything, so the fake name seemed to be the problem.

So while making a fake account might work, I'm personally skeptical.



These one-off situations happen for legit accounts as well. Plenty of people who use their real names and set up accounts with 100% honesty have reported being banned by Facebook without any wrong-doing.

I can only speak to my own experience, and that which I observe of others. Including VR users who exist today using alternate accounts on FB while being 100% active on Facebook.

Anonymous
Not applicable

wuzp said:


Mradr said:
 I am sure there is exceptions. I am not saying there isnt - I am just saying where FB requires it - you must do it. At least that is the stance from FB. Of course I am sure there is exceptions to anything, but considering they will also have information on your CC - I assume it has to match up to your CC as well to some degree.


That of course assumes they require the CC to be "yours."
  • You could be less than 17 years old.
  • You could be a "kept spouse," who depends on their significant other to make purchases for them.
  • You can get a second CC from your bank with whatever (within limits) name you want on it.


Yes, but I also know a few things I can not discuss here either. While you are right - there are a few things they "look for" on your account to flag on. If they don't match up to set of a given information - they will block your purchases and sometimes even close the account. It has happen many times already even for some simple things and that was just with the Oculus account. FB accounts are even more strick. 

Meh - while I am sure you can "do" whatever - you are just running a higher risk for when there is a problem.

wuzp
Rising Star

Mradr said:
 Yes, but I also know a few things I can not discuss here either. While you are right - there are a few things they "look for" on your account to flag on. If they don't match up to set of a given information - they will block your purchases and sometimes even close the account. It has happen many times already even for some simple things and that was just with the Oculus account. FB accounts are even more strick. 


Obviously, Ocubook have no objections to my using a virtual CC.  I think "the few things" you mentioned have more to do with the anti-fraud protections done at the CC processor, and less with FB trying to detect fake users; since almost all of the CC info you type into a checkout page is not captured by Faculus.

Zenbane
MVP
MVP

wuzp said:
Obviously, Ocubook have no objections to my using a virtual CC.  I think "the few things" you mentioned have more to do with the anti-fraud protections done at the CC processor, and less with FB trying to detect fake users; since much of the CC info you type into a checkout page that is not captured by Faculus.



Yeah, I wouldn't worry about anything like that at all. Oculus has had no problem taking my money from my CC; and I can assure you that the name "Zenbane" is nowhere to be found on my financial statements lol

Many households will have 1 credit card for the entire house and all its users. Facebook doesn't care at all if a name matches up with a payment method.

Zmidponk
Protege
Zenbane, you do understand that you selectively quoting me when replying doesn't actually delete the parts you don't quote, and that people can actually go back to the original post and read those parts, yes?  If so, why do you do it?  After all, conveniently not quoting and ignoring parts that makes very salient points only makes it look like you're not understanding the argument being made - which kinda makes you look like an idiot.

Zenbane
MVP
MVP

Zmidponk said:

Zenbane, you do understand that you selectively quoting me when replying doesn't actually delete the parts you don't quote, and that people can actually go back to the original post and read those parts, yes? 



It seems you have no ability to explain away your contradiction, so now we get this off-topic reply. Lovely.

I quoted your two main arguments and illustrated your blatant contradiction. On one hand you have been arguing with me that "rules are rules" which are either "allowed or not allowed," and then on the other hand you tried to say that "facebook can choose to make exceptions," all the while trying to say I am wrong for saying Facebook is flexible.

You not only look contradictory, you also look...

like an idiot.


Exactly.
 🙂