Facebook belatedly backtracks in real name row with LGBT community
Facebook has buckled under weeks of pressure from members of the LGBT community by acquiescing to demands it allow members to use drag and stage names for member profiles.
The row followed complaints that people had had their accounts suspended for failing to use their real names, prompting a public relations nightmare for the social media hub – which has now apologised for any hardship caused by the suspensions.
Grappling with the issue Facebook’s VP of product Chris Cox said in a statement: “I want to apologize to the affected community of drag queens, drag kings, transgender, and extensive community of our friends, neighbors, and members of the LGBT community for the hardship that we’ve put you through in dealing with your Facebook accounts over the past few weeks.”
Instead Facebook is vowing to pursue a policy of ensuring every member use the ‘authentic name they use in real life’ rather than require every user to use their legal name. Cox explained: “Our policy has never been to require everyone on Facebook to use their legal name. The spirit of our policy is that everyone on Facebook uses the authentic name they use in real life. For Sister Roma, that’s Sister Roma. For Lil Miss Hot Mess, that’s Lil Miss Hot Mess.”
Facebook claims to be developing improved tools to identify ‘bad actors’ although suspect accounts will be ‘managed’ in a ‘less abrupt and more thoughtful way’.